UNDATED -- There has been a big jump in home fires this past year, and it has cost people their lives, their belongings, their biggest investment, and in some cases their freedom.
A rash of large apartment fires in the region has cost hundreds all their belongings. A sudden increase in home fires has cost over two dozen people in Kalamazoo, Allegan and Van Buren Counties their lives in the last year, which is a big jump in the annual statistic.
Many different factors were involved, but more often than not, the homes didn’t have working smoke detectors.
The resurgence of Methamphetamines has also goosed up fire statistics, because the labs can sometimes explode, and take homes with them.
Some hard hit parts of Michigan are reporting a big increase in arsons. Homeowners are torching their places, hoping to cash in on their insurance before the bank forecloses and winding up in jail.
In Detroit, arson fraud has jumped 40% in the last 8 years and if you go strictly by the numbers, we are just entering the worst season of the year for fires.
http://new.wkzo.com/news/articles/2009/dec/07/parts-west-michigan-see-big-jump-home-fires/
