1/22/14 - Jackson duplex fire, 917 S. Francis

At 1:32 PM on Wednesday, January 22, 2014, the Jackson Fire Department with automatic aid from the Summit Township Fire Department responded to a structure fire reported by passersby at 917 S. Francis. First arriving personnel reported heavy smoke and fire showing from a two story residence. The structure was reported to be vacant. Command requested additional mutual aid for another crew from Summit Township, along with an engine from the Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety and off-duty callbacks of JFD personnel. An interior attack was attempted but crews had to evacuate the building and a defensive attack was engaged. Utility crews used equipment to dig to access and shut off the gas line feeding the building. Once the fire was knocked down enough, the equipment was then used to tear down the unsafe structure. Firefighters battled extreme cold weather conditions to extinguish the fire, no injuries were reported.