Dan Armitage, 41, of West Bloomfield Township was hit by at least three vehicles just after 6:30 a.m., State Police Trooper Paul Shunia told the Detroit Free Press.

 

Matt Schroeder, president of the Ann Arbor firefighters union, spoke with AnnArbor.com by phone today. He said it's been an emotional day for the department.

"We hired on together in 1995," he said of Armitage. "He was a fantastic professional fireman who loved his family and he did his job well every day, and he's going to be greatly missed by our department. We'll do whatever we can to support the family."

Schroeder said Armitage was a driver at Engine 6 at the Briarwood fire station on Ann Arbor's south side. He was married with young children.

"Our department is shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Dan’s tragic death," Ann Arbor Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard said in a statement. "As Dan's identity was just recently confirmed, we are still in the process of sharing this news with the rest of the department. This is a very difficult time for us all."

Reached by phone later in the day, Hubbard said Armitage was well liked in the department. "He was a good family man and just a great all-around person."

Armitage is the second Ann Arbor firefighter in six years to die when struck by a vehicle along a freeway. Amy Schnearle-Pennywitt died in January 2006 from injuries suffered when she was struck at an accident scene on I-94 in Ann Arbor by a pickup truck that spun out of control on the icy road.

A preliminary investigation indicates Armitage was on the north shoulder of westbound 696 at Farmington Road changing a tire, state police said in a press release.

At some point, he ended up on the ground in the right lane of the freeway and was hit by the vehicles whose drivers were unable to avoid him.

Another vehicle crashed into the median wall, and the driver suffered minor injuries, the release stated.

 

• Watch a Channel 4 video about the accident.
• See a Detroit Free Press video below:

 

 

AnnArbor.com government and politics reporter Ryan J. Stanton contributed to this story.

The young buck made its way onto a sheet of ice over the Huron River, then to the Gallup Park bridge embankment in the middle of the river.

A concerned motorist called the Humane Society of Huron Valley after spotting the deer under the bridge. Matt Schaecher, director of animal cruelty investigations and animal rescue, responded to the scene and called the Ann Arbor Fire Department for assistance.

“I’ve got to give them credit; they were fantastic,” Schaecher said. “Their response time was phenomenal.”

A fire crew arrived with a rescue boat to help the animal back to the shore. Schaecher said the crew had to break up remaining ice around the embankment and then ushered the buck to the water, where it swam to shore and sprinted back to the wooded park.

“It was uninjured and ran down the shore next to the fences,” Schaecher said, “then hopped the fence and ran back into the woods. He was fine.”

The Ann Arbor Fire Department responded to the call at 5:15 p.m. Battalion Chief Robert Vogel said the 10-by-10 foot, free-standing sauna was a total loss, and the corner of a nearby garage suffered minor damage.

Vogel said the male tenant of the home started the wood burning in the sauna's stove around noon today with the intention of using the sauna this evening. The tenant’s wife and his neighbor both saw the flames, which were shooting out of the roof, and called 911, Vogel said.

He added he could not estimate the total damage, not knowing how much it cost to build the sauna. It took about 10 minutes to put out the flames, he said.

The tenant, his wife and their dog were home at the time of the fire. There were no injuries.

The fire remains under investigation.

After receiving referrals of 10 kids in need from The Salvation Army, the Ann Arbor Fire Department invited them and their families out for a tour of the station and a meal from Cottage Inn.

And that's where the surprise came in.

Lined up behind one of the firetrucks were 10 brand new bikes. After yelling, "Move that truck!" the kids saw their new bikes for the first time.

At first, many weren't sure what to do. They looked to their parents in confusion.

"That's yours," someone said to the group. And suddenly they took off, each one looking to find their bike, marked with their name.

Melissa Cretsinger, AAFD management assistant, said the fire department raises up to $2,000 a year for the Bikes for Tykes event.

The families provided Two Wheel Tango with the ages and approximate heights of the children — ages 4 to 10 — so that the bikes would be the perfect fit. The store also included helmets, so that the kids would be safe while riding.

Ann Arbor resident Shaka Wilson's sons Nicklas and Christopher Pike both received bikes Tuesday. Wilson said she's grateful for the Bikes for Tykes program.

"It took a lot of pressure off me," she said, adding Christmas presents were difficult to come by this year, especially with another son, Zion, on the way.

While Nicklas, 8, took his new wheels for a spin, Christopher, 7, got some help from a firefighter because he hasn't quite gotten the knack for riding yet.

"Times are hard," Wilson said. "I'm very, very grateful."

Danielle Larson said her daughter Alexandra, 10, was excited enough about the trip to the fire station to see it up close and meet the firefighters. Getting the new bike (in purple, her favorite) was a great bonus.

Larson also was happy the Two Wheel Tango staff was on hand to make sure the bikes and helmets all fit properly. "It's perfect," Alexandra said.

Bikes for Tykes is Two Wheel Tango co-owner Dennis Pontius' favorite event of the year. The shop has been participating for about five years, and he said it's a great way to give back.

"You know these kids appreciate it," he says, motioning to a room full of smiling and kids speeding through the room on their new bikes.

Shavaughn Thomas' children had to leave their old bikes behind when they moved to Ann Arbor from Chicago in September to care for Thomas' mother. The kids couldn't take the bikes on the train.

Miyami, 7, and Makell, 4, were thrilled with the surprise. "I knew it was going to be mine even when I didn't see my name on it," Miyami said. Her bike and and helmet were both purple — her favorite color.

The kids even wanted to ride their bikes homes.

"Just to see the smiles on their faces is incredible," Thomas said. "I can't believe all this. It's such a huge blessing."

Julie Baker is a news producer at AnnArbor.com.

Firefighters were called to the homes at 11:22 p.m. Wednesday and arrived to find flames coming from the attached garage.

"The garage was fully involved and had already collapsed," said Battalion Chief Robert Vogel.

Flames were extending into the house and spreading to the adjoining home, firefighters said. A combined four units in two buildings were affected by the blaze, said Vogel.

Police went into the home from the front door, located around the corner on Springbrook Street, and rescued the two women.

The occupants of the other duplexes escaped unharmed, firefighters said. The two women did not require hospitalization, but they were treated by Huron Valley Ambulance on the scene.

Three vehicles were destroyed in the fire, including one in the garage and two in the driveway.

Both homes also were severely damaged, firefighters said, pegging the damage estimate at "well over $100,000."

The cause had not been determined as of 10 a.m. Thursday, but Vogel said it did start in the garage.

Firefighters from the nearby Huron Parkway/Platt Road station were the first AAFD responders and Vogel said they reached the fire within minutes. Firefighters from the Briarwood station backed them up, and they did not seek assistance from other agencies.

Crews were on scene just after 6 p.m. shutting off the gas and preparing to repair the line, said Scott Simons.

Ann Arbor Fire Department Battalion Chief Robert Vogel said the 3-inch line likely would be repaired by 7:45 p.m. The fire department, DTE officials and Briarwood security and staff decided not to evacuate the mall, he said, adding that they continue to monitor levels. The smell can be detected in the mall, but there are no flammable gases.

The contractor was working on the construction of a new hotel near the mall, reports indicated.

 

The driver lost control of of the vehicle, which slid out of control, struck a fence and retaining wall and tipped into a deep ravine, Ann Arbor Fire Department Training Officer Craig Sidelinger said. The driver was trapped in the vehicle and had to be freed by firefighters.

 

Crews are applying salt to the area because the road surface is slippery, police said.

Further information about the crash, including whether anyone was injured, was not immediately available.

An overnight snowfall created slick road conditions and caused several crashes and spin-outs on Washtenaw County roads this morning, dispatchers said.