Crime & Safety
Ann Arbor, MI House Fire Today: Flames Spread to Second Floor
Ann Arbor, MI – A second alarm house fire Monday morning, October 12, brought firefighters from multiple departments to a large residence in Ann Arbor after flames spread from an attached garage into
By Grant Holloway · 2026-10-12T18:08:37.174Z
Ann Arbor, MI – A second alarm house fire Monday morning, October 12, brought firefighters from multiple departments to a large residence in Ann Arbor after flames spread from an attached garage into the second floor. Two residents and their cat escaped safely.
According to the Ann Arbor Fire Department , crews responded at approximately 8:21 a.m. to the 400 block of Highland Road in the Geddes and Hill area.
Firefighters arrived to find an active garage fire that had already extended into the upper portion of the home.
The residence, measuring more than 5,200 square feet, presented significant challenges for responding crews because of its unusual construction.
Officials said the property included an original structure built in 1926 and an addition constructed approximately 60 years ago.
Both sections featured Tudor style architecture, steep roofs, concealed spaces and thick plaster walls reinforced with metal mesh.
These conditions allowed flames to travel through hidden wall and attic spaces, making the fire especially difficult to access and extinguish.
Firefighters from Pittsfield Township, Scio Township, Ann Arbor Township and Northfield Township assisted Ann Arbor crews in containing the blaze.
The coordinated response helped protect property and belongings valued at several million dollars, according to the department.
One firefighter was evaluated at the scene for heat exhaustion. No injuries to the home's occupants were reported.
Huron Valley Ambulance, Ann Arbor police and HART also assisted. Additional departments provided coverage throughout the city while crews handled the emergency.
The fire's cause and point of origin remain under investigation. Preliminary findings indicate the blaze was unintentional.
Officials have not released a final damage estimate or determined what initially sparked the fire.