FARMINGTON (WWJ) -- A dozen people were sent to hospitals from the scene of a devastating house fire, Tuesday morning in Farmington Hills.
Eight residents — ranging in age to 5 months to 27 years old — and four Farmington Hills Police officers suffered from smoke inhalation, according to officials talking to WWJ Newsradio 950's Mike Campbell.
Farmington Hills Fire Chief John Unruh said police and fire responded early in the morning to frantic 911 call from the home, in the area of 10 Mile and Middle Belt roads, after a fire broke out in a front bedroom.
"Now the house, a two story bungalow, just devastated," Campbell reported. "I mean, the inside looks gutted from the outside. I haven't been inside, obviously, but it doesn't look good on the outside looking in."
Unruh said that if it weren't for the four brave police officers who were first on the scene, this situation might have been even worse.
"We had several people trapped in the home," Unruh said. "Police officers arrived; four police officers arrived just before us. They went inside the home and rescued three people. Two of those people were unconscious."
The fire is out.
In an afternoon update, police said three of the officers, who all have under five years experience, were transported to Detroit Receiving Hospital where they were put on ventilators. They were said to be in "serious but stable condition." The fourth was under observation.
Three adult residents in the home were listed in critical condition, three were stable, and two were treated and released.
Farmington Hills Police Chief John Piggott said the officers didn't hesitate before charging into the burning home:
"No doubt in mind mind that if the officers were not actively tugging on them and calling to them and pulling them, they would've had no way to know how to get out of that house," Piggott said. "Without the flashlights and the calling for help, and the pulling of them...there is no doubt in my mind that we would have at least three fatalities of people who were still inside that house."
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but detectives say there is nothing suspicious at this time.
Officials noted that the home did have working smoke detectors.
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