Trending Topics

Mich. paramedic’s house destroyed by fire

The paramedic’s niece, her husband and baby were at home when the fire broke out; they all escaped unharmed

hf-3ems1dblrslv.jpg

Rich Keizer’s house.

Photo/GoFundMe

By EMS1 Staff

ROCKFORD, Mich. — A paramedic’s house was destroyed in a fire Saturday night.

WOODTV.com reported that Rockford Ambulance paramedic Rich Keizer got a text from a colleague about the fire.

“What’s your address?” the text said. “I’m like, ‘138 Oak Street’,” Keizer said. “And my very next thing was going to be like, ‘Is something happening in the neighborhood?’”

Keizer said he was concerned about the family living with him – his niece, her husband and their baby. They were home at the time of the fire, but escaped unharmed.

Keizer said his niece’s husband saw a flicker outside a basement window; a cigarette butt was in a canister. Before he could grab a hose to put out the fire, it grew out of control and spread to the house next door. The neighbor’s home belongs to a nurse.

“This could’ve so quickly turned into an injury or a death,” Keizer said.

A GoFundMe page was set up to help Keizer

WHAT TO READ NEXT
Gurnee Firefighter-Paramedic Bob Davidson’s mother and another firefighter were injured in the blaze at Davidson’s home
A fundraiser has been launched to support the Altamahaw-Ossipee Fire Department paramedic and his family
A GoFundMe page has raised nearly $5,000 for Somerville Rescue Squad EMT Ernie Hall and his family
A fundraiser has been set up for former chief, who is being treated at the hospital for first-degree burns