pz

April 3rd, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^

That really stinks. Hope everyone recovers fully... Additionally, I noticed this: "Two other fires involving cars and trash cans also were reported overnight." What a strange night...

skyweapon

April 3rd, 2010 at 3:22 PM ^

When I rode by at around 11:00 AM the firefighter on the second floor was stacking weed plant after weed plant on the window sill. Wonder if a burning bag was a cover up for an electrical fire...?

amir_al-muminin

April 3rd, 2010 at 3:10 PM ^

My comment wasn't directed at you, it was just a general remark that seemed to follow your comment logically. Anyone that blamed Sparty got negged severely, while those ripping on "Ypsi kids" (read: black people) were encouraged to continue their thinly veiled racism. Example: Below, someone identified some delinquents he spotted outside the window of his Ann Arbor residence as "Ypsi kids." He did not ask them where they were from, rather, thanks to what he's "learned from living there," he merely had to observe their skin color to conclude that they didn't belong, and were therefore from Ypsi. Neg away.

Magnus

April 3rd, 2010 at 1:06 PM ^

When I was looking for a place to live a few years ago, I looked at the place on the right in the picture. The room was tiny, though. I'm sorry, but if a fire ever engulfs my house, I am NOT getting caught in the flames. I'd rather jump out a second story window and break my leg(s) than catch on fire.

bluewillrise

April 3rd, 2010 at 1:17 PM ^

As someone who is a current student in Ann Arbor, this screams Ypsi kids coming over and starting shit again. Honestly, I have experienced this stuff personally, two years in a row friends of mine have been robbed and beaten up by to these Ypsilanti kids. Its just kinda weird that there were also fires in garbage cans and on parked cars. Obviously hard to jump to conclusions like this but there is kind of a feeling around campus that there are a lot fo those kids who have been coming over and starting problems recently because people in Ann Arbor dont expect things like this to happen in our town

WichitanWolverine

April 3rd, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like everyone will be alright. When people are running out of a burning building on fire, and in critical condition, you've gotta assume people are seriously burned. But I agree; this sounds like an arson case. I sure hope they catch these assholes quickly.

PackardChug

April 3rd, 2010 at 1:53 PM ^

I live next door to the blaze and so far this year: -Gun shots at Bells in July involving Ypsi kids -This January I was awoken by what I assume to be "Ypsi kids" (call me racist, stereotyping, etc but its what i've learned living there) yelling at each other. I look out the window and see one raise a gun and yell "N***** I've got a FUCKING GUN!" Everyone ran, I hit the deck. -Just two weeks ago I went to the bathroom around 2am and heard what sounded like gun shots. Came back to my room where my girlfriend was watching bells and the commotion from my window and said, "i definitely just heard gun shots and saw a bunch of black kids run away from bells" Shit goes down at the corner late at night and that's why I'm gladly moving to the other side of town next semester

formerlyanonymous

April 3rd, 2010 at 2:11 PM ^

I won't blame Ypsi kids, or any of the variety of townies just yet. I've had enough problems with them during my time on campus. We had to replace about 7 windows in 3 years at the house I was living in. Sure, they could have been involved, but normally they're about guns or rocks (or dishes) through windows, not fire. I'm not sure they're advanced enough to control fire, nor smart enough to realize their cigarette lighters can cause big fires.

gujd

April 3rd, 2010 at 1:27 PM ^

I'm glad the landlord of the building helping those people out. I know living in AA during school I didn't have the kindest thoughts towards my landlords, so it's nice to hear them helping out quickly.

Other Chris

April 3rd, 2010 at 1:38 PM ^

I mean, it could be arson, but it's not as if we haven't had our share of coals in the plastic trash can/cigarette in the porch couch fires in Ann Arbor. I'm hoping that everyone recovers.

blueblueblue

April 3rd, 2010 at 2:12 PM ^

Agree, people are taking the arson meme and running with it. Seems like 5am is a bit early/late for arson, but what the hell do I know. But, there yesterday there was a "red flag warning" for MI regarding dangerous fire conditions - I know that it is meant for "open burning" but it could have some implications for porches the houses they are attached to.

blueblueblue

April 3rd, 2010 at 4:23 PM ^

Most bad house fires occur when everyone is asleep. It's the "everyone is asleep" part that makes it a bad house fire - nobody is aware enough to put the fire out, and they are, in the same vein, caught unawares by the fire. And a flaming bag can be just as accidental as a flaming, well, anything. Using these clues, it may be arson, but it may just as easily be accident.

shoes untied

April 3rd, 2010 at 5:30 PM ^

the whole thread i was thinking "it's poo again"...i was hoping so hard someone had put up a video or a pic because i was afraid it'd be too soon and didn't want to get neg banged...+1 sir...great movie

Hard Gay

April 3rd, 2010 at 1:50 PM ^

I was hanging out on my porch on s. division at around 5 am when we heard all these fire engines go by and saw a ridiculous plume of smoke so we decided to go check it out. I had no idea that people were injured, i really hope they turn out alright.

Zoltanrules

April 3rd, 2010 at 4:00 PM ^

As a landlord, I can't tell you how many times I have to beg my student tenants to keep the smoke detectors working (usually smoke from kitchen cooking sets them off and they "forget" to replace it). Please everyone make sure you have smoke detectors wherever you live. It saves lives! Hats off to the AAPD! Sounds like those guys did a great job. Real heroes!

jmblue

April 3rd, 2010 at 4:13 PM ^

Was there some kind of a fire on North Campus on Thursday? I was driving down Plymouth in the early afternoon and saw/smelled a ton of smoke.

MaizeNBlue

April 3rd, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^

General question for everyone talking about what they've seen: how safe is the Packard area southwest of SQuad, between the stadium and campus? I may or may not be living around there next year.

pz

April 3rd, 2010 at 4:47 PM ^

But really, Ann Arbor is very safe on the whole. You just need to be smart and not set yourself up as an easy target for something - keep your doors locked, try not to let women walk around alone, etc, and you shouldn't have any big problems. That particular area isn't really any different from any other area where students live.

M-Wolverine

April 3rd, 2010 at 4:52 PM ^

But I lived on McKinley FOREVER, and never had any more than the usual college issues. It seemed no different than any of the other student/resident neighborhoods. Quieter than a lot of the frat areas. Used to walk to csmpus and stadium and all, all the time, at any time. But maybe it's turned for the worse the last couple of years. I know the closer you get to across Stadium, there are dome not great blocks.

MaizeNBlue

April 3rd, 2010 at 5:17 PM ^

Well yeah, I already know all of that, I just didn't bank on having to think about it too much. To be honest, I'm not going to worry about it too much anyways because of how many houses around us are also students. To the person that said some blocks across Stadium aren't so nice: I haven't noticed that in any direction, especially not going west.

M-Wolverine

April 3rd, 2010 at 5:51 PM ^

I'm talking the area encircled by State, Stadium, Industrial and Salvatikn Army there. The blocks there have that kinda run down apartment area before the bridge, and while not hardly the ghetto, if you're concerned about neighborhoods, I guess that one isn't as nice as some.

PackardChug

April 3rd, 2010 at 4:57 PM ^

And to be honest, you'll get woken by fights at bells a lot. I've heard gunshots twice this year, but it never involves Michigan students. It's always the Ypsi crowd at bells. This are is known for robberies- just don't leave a window open or doors unlocked and when out of town, leave a light on. This area has more crime than any other student area.

Zoltanrules

April 3rd, 2010 at 9:02 PM ^

The young man from Dexter who died in the fire was just the nicest kid you could ever want to meet. He was a good soccer player and big UM fan. I literally am sick to my stomach. Renden brightened up every room he was in. My heartfelt condolences to his entire family.