Detroit sees dozens of fires sweeping across the city

Detroit - The Detroit area has been experiencing high winds with gusts up to 50 mph throughout the day. There are now over 80 locations on fire plus an abandoned building in the city.

With high winds sweeping across the area today, Detroit's firemen are exhausted as they are running to the various locations where the fires are throughout the city. Detroit Fire Department Capt. Steve Varnas said the fires are not being caused by firebugs; the high winds are smacking wires down and tree branches are falling on the power lines, igniting the fires. Freep.com reports Varnas said, “Throughout the whole city, the same thing is happening: Wires down everywhere.” At last report there were multiple homes on fire on the city's east side. In one area there were at least twenty homes engulfed in fire. Another area has many homes on fire and there are more homes on fire on the city's west side. With the fires spreading out of control the Detroit Fire Department requested help from at least two other cities. Freep.com reports Detroit Fire Capt. Dan McNamara said, "We’ve never really been in the situation of needing significant help since the civil disturbances” during the riots of 1967. McNamara is the union president of the Detroit Firefighters Association and a 33-year veteran. The city asked Warren to send aid to fires raging near 7 Mile and Van Dyke, said McNamara. There are reports that 42,000 homes are without power. Update--www.wxyz.com reports they were told that between 4 pm and 8 pm there were fires burning at 80 locations. Many of the homes were abandoned.