Storms damage OCSD patrol car; cause fire

The cluster of storms that blew into the lakes area on Monday, July 18, left a trail of problems in their wake.

In Commerce Township, an Oakland County Sheriff’s Department deputy found her vehicle damaged after a tree had fallen on an occupied vehicle near 105 Robin Street. She proceeded to stop traffic to allow clearance for the responding ambulance when a southbound Jeep Cherokee lost control, sliding across the wet pavement and striking another vehicle traveling southbound. Due to the collision, the latter vehicle slid into the deputy’s patrol car, causing damage to the rear quarter-panel.

There were no reported injuries in the crash.

In Milford Township, firefighters were dispatched to a house fire in the 2200 block of Twilight Trace at 8:28 p.m. Fire officials attribute the fire to a lightning strike during the storm.

When firefighters arrived on the scene 70 percent of the house was engulfed in flames. No one was inside the home when the fire ignited.

Personnel and tankers from Highland, Lyon and Green Oak townships, as well as Brighton came to the aid of Milford and Commerce firefighters already at the scene.

The scorching heat and stifling humidity hampered fire-fighting efforts resulting in four firefighters being sent to area hospitals for heat exhaustion. Three Milford firefighters were conveyed to Huron Valley-Sinai while one Lyon Township firefighter was transported to Providence Park Novi. All four were treated and released.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department fire investigation team was called in to assist with determining the fire’s origin and cause. The investigation was still open Tuesday, July 19 at press time.