Detroit mayor calls fires natural disaster

9/08/2010 12:10:29 PM

DETROIT – Detroit Mayor Dave Bing has defended the fire department for its response to what he described as "a natural disaster" after wind-whipped flames destroyed dozens of homes across the city.

Asked at a news conference Wednesday whether the department was adequately staffed, Bing said it was important to point out that nobody was killed.

Fire Commissioner James Mack says the department is budgeted for about 500 firefighters, about 20 fewer positions than last year. He says the 236 on duty Tuesday is typical.

Eight of the 85 fires Tuesday were related to downed power wires, two were arson. Mack says that on any given day, there are usually 35 fires in the city.

If he could do anything different, he says he might have called for help from the suburbs a little sooner.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

DETROIT — Detroit Mayor Dave Bing has praised the fire department for responding to what he termed "a natural disaster" after wind-whipped flames destroyed dozens of homes across the city.

Bing says firefighters confronted conditions "that were not manmade" Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Wind gusts of up to 50 mph forced flames to jump from house to house, eventually encompassing 85 homes and garages in neighborhoods throughout much of the city.

No injuries were reported.

Fire Commissioner James Mack told a Wednesday news conference that eight of the fires were related to downed power wires, and he attributed two to arson. He said 62 power lines were downed overall.

Firefighters from a half-dozen neighboring agencies assisted the Detroit fire department.