Local Fire Photographer & Firefighters Attacked on Fire Scene

DETROIT October 25 2016: What started off as a crazy day for Detroit Firefighters on Tuesday ended up going full-tilt nuts in the evening. Detroit Fire’s 6th & 9th Battalions were dispatched to Detroit’s east side on reports of multiple dwellings on fire. The 6th Battalion made the fire scene at Molena & Van Dyke at around 11:00PM Tuesday evening. At 11:10PM Chief 6 requested the Detroit Police Department on scene for traffic control. 14 minutes later at 11:24PM Battalion Chief 9 reported firefighters were being attacked by a knife wielding man and they needed a scout FAST!. (FULL Audio of Incident Above) Numerous requests were made until the Detroit Police had a unit available. A couple of different precincts attempted to get police units to the scene but Detroit is a busy place at night, police units come at a premium. The police eventually showed up and the scene became secure, crickets were cricketing again….for a little while anyway.

Chief 9 reports a perp with a knife is attacking firefighters on Molena Box. Expedited DPD units. https://t.co/OGVWuX4L6U

— The Detroit Scanner (@DetroitScanner) October 26, 2016

Meanwhile, a short distance away,  local Fire Photography “buff” Alex (@FireAndWeather) and a friend were enjoying the sights and sounds of the fire scene. Alex and his friend were doing what fire photographers do, taking photographs and video of Detroit firefighters in action. Unfortunately, for Alex’s friend, he caught the attention of our knife wielding homeowner on a tear and became the prey. The East Side Slasher came after “the friend” and chased him down the sidewalk, screaming obscenities as he went. The “friend” can be seen doing a pretty good “moon walk” while the knife wielding perp chased him down the sidewalk and away from the scene. The whole episode was captured on Periscope by Alex on is #Periscope account, @AlexFireChaser. Thankfully, Alex’s friend is fleet of foot and was able to extricate himself from the situation without a poke.

Firefighters were also under attack by this East Side Slasher and throughout Alex’s video the knife wielding knucklehead can be heard yelling at anyone and anything within shouting distance. At one point, he can be heard screaming at a tree “Whatcha gonna do! Whatcha gonna do!”.  By this time, the DPD scout had left the scene to deal with something a little more pressing and the situation once again became out of control. A second request for a DPD scout was made by Battalion Chief 6 at 11:49PM and 43 minutes later the police once again saved the day, or morning as it were. A handgun was also recovered by firefighters and turned over to the DPD at that time.

It’s said the attacker was later arrested by the Detroit Police and given a nice warm bed and a cup of cocoa at the Detroit Detention Center.

Thankfully no one was hurt and everyone went home happy…except for Alex’s friend who will NEVER go on a fire scene with Alex again.

See The Video

Stay Frosty Detroit.