Three Dead In Flint House Fire At Vacant Home

Three people are dead after a house fire in Flint early Tuesday morning, and the details behind it are tough to hear.

Deadly Early Morning Fire In Flint

The fire broke out just after 5:00 a.m. at a vacant home on Martin Luther King Avenue according to ABC 12. By the time crews got there, the situation had already turned dangerous. The building eventually partially collapsed, making it nearly impossible for firefighters to safely get inside. Investigators say two men and a woman were killed. Their names have not been released.

What makes this even heavier is why they were there in the first place. According to Flint Fire Chief Theron Wiggins, the home was vacant. The people inside were believed to be homeless, just trying to find a place to stay warm. It is believed a fire was started inside for heat, and somehow it got out of control.

Structure Collapse Complicated Fire Rescue Efforts

Crews had to fight the flames from outside as the structure continued to fall apart. Investigators are still working to figure out exactly what happened and whether anyone else could be connected to the scene.

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And then just a few miles away, another fire broke out Tuesday afternoon on Flint’s north side. Again, it did not take much for things to go wrong.

Oxygen Tank Ignition Highlights Fire Risk

Fire officials say two people were seriously hurt when their oxygen tanks ignited while they were smoking inside their home. WJRT reports that it happened on Santa Barbara Drive around 1:00 p.m., and the fire caused heavy damage.

Both victims had to be revived at the scene before being rushed to the hospital. There is still no update on their condition. It is another reminder of how quickly something small can turn into something life-threatening, especially when it comes to fire.