GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A firefighter was injured while battling a fire at a commercial building in the Burton Heights neighborhood of Grand Rapids on Sunday evening.
The fire broke out just before 8:30 p.m. at a hair salon located on Division Avenue near Baylis Street. The building housed several businesses, according to Grand Rapids Fire Department (GRFD) Battalion Chief Matt Keusch.
First responders were on the scene within minutes, encountering a locked gate on the building’s front door. Firefighters broke a window to gain entry, but once inside, they were met with heavy heat and smoke. Keusch explained that the intense conditions forced crews to retreat after the ceiling began to collapse.
“As the roof caved in, crews were forced to bail out of the window,” Keusch said. “One firefighter suffered an injury to his arm and was taken for medical treatment.”
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, Keusch confirmed that no one was inside the building at the time of the blaze. “It was too much smoke and fire to even see what was in there at the time,” he added.
The damage to the building is extensive, and Keusch stated that it is likely a total loss. Despite the dangerous conditions, the swift action of the fire crews prevented further injuries or fatalities.
