Fire Damages New Lebbon Road House

By Andrew Gorosko

During a major snowstorm on Tuesday night, all five local volunteer fire companies responded to a house fire on New Lebbon Road that damaged the cape-style building’s attic, fire officials said.

The accidental fire occurred at the Mariani residence on New Lebbon Road, south of that that street’s intersection with High Rock Road, said Fire Marshal Bill Halstead.

The fire most likely was electrical in origin, he said, adding that he will be returning to the scene to investigate the cause.

Botsford Fire Rescue Chief Wayne Ciaccia said that when firefighters arrived at the scene, there was evidence of the blaze emanating from louver vents of the building.

The fire occurred in some ductwork of the house’s hot-air heating system, he said. It was necessary to open ceilings within the house to get to the blaze, he said. Also, firefighters made holes in the house’s snow-covered roof to vent the blaze, he said.

About 30 firefighters responded to the call. One Botsford firefighter received a hand burn for which medical treatment was sought, Chief Ciaccia said. Neither of the two people who were home at the time of the incident were injured, the chief said.

The damaged house is repairable, he said. “This house is very fixable,” he noted. The structure is insured.

The firefighting situation was complicated by the snowstorm and the fact that the house is located at the end of a long steep, uphill driveway leading to the building, the fire chief said.

Firefighters used water carried on their vehicles to extinguish the blaze. 

“I’m proud of all the guys,” the fire chief said of firefighters’ need to work under adverse conditions.

“Everybody did a real good job that night, considering the weather conditions, because it was tough,” Chief Ciaccia said.