Urgent: Fire Claims Life of 6-Year-Old Girl in Detroit

BREAKING: A devastating fire in Detroit has claimed the life of a 6-year-old girl and left her mother in serious condition. The tragic incident occurred early this morning, December 10, 2023, on the 12000 block of Rutherford, near Greenfield and I-96.

Emergency responders received calls just before 6:00 a.m., reporting that three people—a woman and her two young children—were possibly trapped inside the burning home. Neighbors described harrowing scenes as flames engulfed the structure. One local resident, known as Marcus, rushed to help after spotting a 4-year-old boy outside in the frigid 5-degree weather.

“I didn’t even put on no pants,” Marcus recounted. “I came out with my shorts on, ran out here and grabbed the baby.” As firefighters arrived, they found the young girl inside, suffering from severe burns.

Detroit Senior Fire Chief Leo Spitzig confirmed that the girl was transported to Sinai Grace Hospital but sadly did not survive. “It’s obviously sad whenever we lose somebody, but when it is a child, it really hits home to all of us,” Spitzig stated.

The mother is currently in serious condition while the 4-year-old boy is recovering from smoke inhalation. Fortunately, no firefighters were injured during the rescue efforts, despite the extreme cold complicating the situation.

Dispatch audio revealed that one of the nearby fire hydrants was frozen and inoperative, but firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze. The cause of the fire is now under investigation by both the Detroit Fire Investigation Division and the Detroit Police Department.

This tragic incident just 11 days before Christmas has left the community in shock, grappling with the loss of a young life. Authorities urge anyone with information to assist in the ongoing investigation.

As details continue to emerge, the city mourns a heartbreaking loss and reflects on the urgent need for fire safety measures during the winter months.