IrSpett cial Report

BEYOND

THE BLAZE

The fire apparently started in a third-floor boiler room.

Firefighters contained the fire to a central area of Hechtman II.

Fire Damage In 'Millions'

Well-executed emergency plan saved lives and property.

Bill Carroll
Special to the Jewish News

L

ife is slowly returning to normal for the 100 resi-
dents of the Samuel and Lillian Hechtman I Jewish
Apartments in West Bloomfield, but the Hechtman
II building, which was extensively damaged in an April 9
fire, will not re-open "for at least six months or maybe up
to a year," according to Marsha Goldsmith Kamin, executive
director of Jewish Apartments & Services (JAS).
Estimating total damage to the independent living
complex at "millions of dollars" she said. "The good news
is that we can save both buildings, rebuild the center core
of Hechtman II and repair all of the apartments; only four
of the 98 apartments were totally destroyed. We are really
blessed that not everything was completely demolished:'
Senior citizens returned last Friday to their apartments
in Hechtman I, evacuated as a precaution during the fire,
after spending two nights with relatives or at other locations.
The Jewish Home & Aging Services' Fleischman Residence
next door hosted a Shabbat dinner for many of them Friday.
Regular meal service resumed Monday at Hechtman I.
The 98 Hechtman II residents, with an average age of
89, continue to stay with relatives, at the Norman Jean and
Edward Meer Jewish Apartments on the 150-acre Eugene
and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Center campus
or at some of 29 studio rooms made available at the Anna

and Meyer Prentis Jewish Apartments in Oak Park.
Firefighters from West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills,
Southfield, Royal Oak, Independence Township, Bloomfield
Township, Commerce, Novi and Waterford fought the blaze
for five hours, rescuing elderly residents from windows and
upper-floor balconies with ladders.
Police officers from West Bloomfield and Farmington
Hills and deputies from the Oakland County Sheriff's
Department also assisted.
Goldsmith Kamin revealed that 10 JAS employees
helped get about 25 residents out of the buildings before
firefighters arrived. Four residents were treated for minor
injuries at nearby hospitals, then released. None of more
than 100 firefighters was injured.
"Our staff acted quickly on their own and did an amazing
job',' said Goldsmith Kamin.
"The staff had an emergency plan in place for situations
like this and they executed it perfectly in a highly profes-
sional manner; said JAS President Larry Tisdale of West
Bloomfield.
"Some of them were covered with soot and grime, but they
carried out the rescue work:'
All West Bloomfield firefighters were called in to duty to
assist in the rescue effort, and township officials marveled
that there was no loss of life.
"Our firefighters and police did an outstanding job, and
we're grateful for the help of the other communities:' said

Township Supervisor David Flaisher."Now our building
inspectors will do all they can to expedite the rebuilding
effort:'
Finding The Cause
The fire apparently started in a third-floor boiler room of
Hechtman II, which was built in 1992, according to Assistant
Chief Ray Riggs of the West Bloomfield Fire Department; but
fire officials continued to investigate the cause this week.
Goldsmith Kamin said there had been no trouble with
any equipment in the boiler room before the fire.
"I'm very proud of our residents because the fire was not
linked at all to anyone's kitchen; she added. "We always preach
fire safety to residents, and they're very careful about that:'
She said family members of Hechtman II residents are
being contacted to set up appointments for them to enter
the damaged building to try to recover personal effects of
relatives.
"But they'll need flashlights; the carpeting will be wet,
and the elevators are not operating;' she pointed out.
"But the building will be safe, just not habitable Riggs
added.
Meanwhile, the building is locked and protected by
security guards. Although computers and other equipment
were destroyed in the center core, Goldsmith Kamin said
duplicate files are maintained at the JAS Oak Park office.

Special Report on page A14

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April 17 • 2008

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