Tragedy At The Ford Rouge Plant- February 1st 1999

Every Fire Department’s history and every Firefighter’s career usually has a defining moment. This moment is of great portent and nothing relevant is the same after this experience. For a Fire Department, it might mean a change in procedure, command or structure. For a Firefighter it might mean a change of soul, spirit or life style. Sometimes, it might have the impact of physical injury or even death.

For the Firefighters and Fire Department of Dearborn Industrial Local I-35, this defining moment occurred on February 1, 1999 at 1302 hours – the moment in time that boiler #6 at the Ford Motor Company Rouge Industrial Complex in Dearborn, Michigan exploded.

Many of us remember where we were or could have been but, for reasons unbeknown to us, we could only wonder why. We can, however, review the incident through our personal experiences.

As one of the Firefighters stated afterwards, “ This was a day that tested a lot of veterans and rookies for the first time in a major disaster. Every single person did their job with a minimum of discussion or fuss. In years to come when I look back on February 1, 1999 I will remember who I was working with and what we did that day.”

Local I-35 was originated in 1980 originally comprised of 46 members, it currently boasts of 13 IAFF members. Its primary responsibilities are….fire fighting, ambulance service, rescue, inspections, extinguisher maintenance, training both in-house and plant population.

In 1999 the Department responded to 702 runs. We maintain 2 transporting Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, a 1976 FTI Pumper, and 2 light response F250's with foam and deluge gun capabilities.

The Rouge Industrial Complex is approximately 2.5 square miles and the Fire Rescue Operations Fire Station sits in the middle of this complex. The Power House #1 complex totals 79,708 square feet. The main buildings are constructed of steel and brick. and is south-east of the Fire Station and approximately ¼ mile away.

At 1302 hours on that fateful day, we were rocked out of our work routine by an explosion. Running out our front door we were greeted with a scene of horrific proportions. Thick black smoke, coal dust and steam shot skyward in a northeasterly direction as our gamewell system banged out an alarm for Box 222 – Circuit / Zone 3 – Building Power House #1; Box Location: First floor – west of revolving door. The explosion of Boiler #6 destroyed the sprinkler piping above the flow switch and sent uncontrolled water skyward. Taking all of this in we knew then that the routine would be far from normal on this incident.

Mark ……" I arrived at the station minutes after the page and met Doug …. at the station. We were the first people in. We had to disconnect the bay doors to get 304 out. We responded to the north side of the Power House and staged. I was instructed to don an air pack and than went to the south side to assist. At this time John …. had arrived and proceeded to the south side. Shortly after going to the south side, yourself and others started to arrive. I was also one of the team leaders doing the building search with the State Police officer and his dog. I led two teams and so did Rick ….. The rest is pretty much the same, everyone helped out any way possible".

John ….. " I arrived to the explosion about 8 minutes after, I was in the paramedic class at Henry Ford Community College having lunch… When I got close to the Rouge Complex it was hard to see because of the dense smoke. I had no problem entering the complex since everyone was heading out.

I went to the Fire Station #3 and grabbed my fire gear and jumped in unit #305, power was out and the complex looked eerie and all the workers I passed just looked confused as to what was happening.

Upon arrival at the north side of the Power House I was instructed to put on a SCBA and firefighter Mark …. and myself went around to the south side. Doug ….. was with E-3 on the north end."

Our first entry into the building was probably about 20 or 30 minutes after the explosion, we were informed of possibly four workers trapped in the maintenance shop. Ricky, Scott and myself entered to look for the four employees. To my knowledge this was the first entry into the building other than the initial response from the Rouge Steel Fire Fighters, who were on scene prior to our Company. Making our way to the maintenance shop we passed over the body of a worker who was already expired.

Doug …. " Prior to responding to the Power House, I had to summon 5 bystanders form in front of the station on road 4 to lift the 2 heavy wooden bay doors. Now inoperable without power."

By 1316 hrs. Ford Rouge Firefighters from Station 3 had staged on the northwest side of the Powerhouse #1 about 200 yards from the building. Equipment consisted of Engine-3, a 1976 FTI 1000 GPM pumper, Rescue 304, and Ambulance 301. The concern now was two fold. Would there be a secondary explosion and would the fire cross over to the Pulverizer building that supplies fuel and coal for the Powerhouse #1. The Pulverizer building and the Power House #1 are connected by a fifth floor conveyor.

As a result of the tremendous force and speed at which the explosion traveled, no fire spread to the Pulverizer building. Heavy fire was located on the fourth floor, north-east side of the eight story building near the control room. The thick black smoke caused by the rupture of a large lubricating oil tank, made its way skyward through the destroyed roof which covered the huge steam turbines that generated electricity to the entire Rouge Complex.

The south side of the building had most of the windows blown out. A metal roll-up door at track 25, on the south east corner of the building was blown outward, and was on the ground about 10 feet from the building. Roof tiles and brick littered the area. This was the area most of the burned and injured exited the Power House. The frame of the revolving glass door was damaged beyond use, due to the forces of the explosion.

On the other side of that revolving door, east of alarm box 222, at the South side is the main stairway leading to all eight floors in the Powerhouse #1. Inside of that same vestibule to the east of the revolving door is an elevator that also makes it's way to the top of the building. Now littered with debris, the stairwell almost impassable, the elevator inoperable, it became a real challenge for those inside to get to safety.

Inside, moments after the explosion, with no way out the injured and burned victims put their plan into action. Trapped on the 4th floor only these heroes knew what they were faced with. Disorientated, they formed a human chain and made their way down now debris littered stairwells, some blinded, some crippled. Through their strong brotherhood and commitment to each other they made their way to daylight and the awaiting rescue personnel.

Across the street from the Powerhouse #1 is Rouge Steel Fire Operations offices. Ford Motor Company and Rouge Steel share the same complex. Attending to normal business, Rouge Steel Firefighter Carlos Tumpkin was standing in the hallway talking to an office assistant, when the explosion occurred the suspended ceiling fell in on a vendor, Carlos went to see if the vendor was ok, noise and radio traffic immediately alerted him this is not normal and made his way to the door that exits to look at the south side of Powerhouse #1.

At the same time Fire Fighter Joel Barthlow who was attending an Incident Commander class about 150 feet from Carlos's location experienced the same rocking building and also made his way to the same exit door. They are located just southwest of the revolving door that was now collapsed and preventing egress by those trapped inside.

Carlos and Joel made their way out to witness Powerhouse #1 workers on fire, people calling for help, people you work with everyday now unrecognizable, smoke, fire, steam, coal dust moving in that northeasterly direction, cars, trucks crushed by fallen debris. Without any regard for their safety they immediately began to attend to the injured, just outside of the revolving door are parking blocks, they were used to seat and begin immediate triage to those who had now exited the building.

Joel …… " February 1st ,1999, I was attending Incident Command class for RSC in the RSC learning lab located approx. 200ft. from the Ford Powerhouse #1. The class just reconvened from lunch about 1300hrs. We had just started our table top disaster exercise when we heard a loud explosion and felt the percussion that literally lifted the roof on the classroom. I immediately ran outside thinking the Pulverizer bldg. blew up, only to see debris, fire, and smoke from the powerhouse rising into the air.

Realizing the magnitude of the explosion I ran toward my office at Gate 2 which is located about 100ft. from the SW corner of the powerhouse. Inside the office I picked up my phone and dialed 9-1-1. The Dearborn fire dispatcher said " Ford Motor Co…We are on the way", I replied "Send everyone!" I hung up and headed outside.

I met up with my partner and friend FF Carlos Tumpkin. Carlos stated that some of the walking wounded were starting make their way out of the powerhouse and that we needed to help. We both donned our full turnout gear and ran toward the south entrance of the powerhouse where all of the 25+ wounded would eventually exit. (There was nothing I could have done that would have prepared me for what Carlos and I were about to experience.)

As Carlos and I approached, several of the walking wounded stopped us and asked for help. Our adrenaline and training kicked in and we both knew what we had to do but how was the question? Workers continued screaming for help. Some of these workers were friends of ours that we had seen almost daily coming and going to work. These same workers were calling Carlos and I by name but were unrecognizable to us because their face were so badly burnt. Some had their ears, noses, lips and eyelids literally burned off . One of the victims was only wearing his leather belt and shoes, the rest of his clothes were blown and burned off of his body in the initial explosion.

As it became apparent that we had the majority of the critically injured at the south side of the building I tried calling Ford Fire/Rescue via radio, who was staged on the north side of the building, but the radio channel was overwhelmed. As Carlos and I continued to rescue and assist the victims we set up a makeshift staging and triage area on a yellow curb wall s/e of the building. As I helped carry one of the victims to the staging area he told me that he had crawled over a co-worker to get out. He stated that the victim was lying at the entrance to the maintenance office at the end of track 25. Not knowing the fate of the victim, I turned to Carlos and told him I was going in to try to effect a rescue.

At the track 25 bay door I met up with Paul MacLachlan, a supervisor from the powerhouse and told him someone was still in there. Without regard for our own life safety Paul and I entered the heavily involved and damaged building. Approximately 75ft in we saw the victim lying on the ground covered with burning debris. I checked the pulseless victim and felt compelled to extinguish the fire on the victim. I grabbed a building fire hose and tried to extinguish the fire to no avail. The explosion had blown apart the fire lines that fed the hose. At the same time Paul was checking for more victims in the maintenance shop area.

Soon thereafter we found ourselves in immediate danger. Large pieces of concrete from the roof were raining down upon us. I told Paul "lets get the hell out of here!" Fearing the debris would further bury the victim, I set a expelled extinguisher next to the body to mark the location and made our retreat. As I made my way through the debris back to Carlos, he stood there with at least 12 victims lying on the ground in his care.

Just then, I turned and saw one of the most beautiful things. It was Ford Fire's new Ambulance 301 driving through debris heading our way. FF Gary Dell was driving with full turnout gear and SCBA on his back. Along with Gary was FF Tonya Ecckles and FF Scott Noble. What a site for sore eyes. Help finally made it to us. Gary got out and called for more ambulances through our central station via radio. We all grabbed equipment from the ambulance and proceeded to set up triage and treat the patients with all that we had"!

Paul MacLachlan, a Ford Motor Company supervisor in charge of the maintenance crew of the Powerhouse, was in a meeting at the Dearborn Stamping Plant and his first indication that there was a problem was when on his radio he was hearing 911 calls. His first impression was," who was fooling around?".

Paul's route put him on the same path as the responding fire unit Ambulance 301 from Station 3. At approximately1312 hours Paul met up with responding units. Paul conversed for a very short time and proceeded to the south side of the Powerhouse #1. At the same time the rescue crew of Gary Dell, Tonya Ecckles and Rouge Steel Firefighter Scott Noble were donning their SCBA's .

At 1313 hours Paul MacLachlan arrived at the south side of the Powerhouse #1. He got on the radio to inform Ambulance 301 staged on the North side that there were a number of victims on the South side and the Rescue crew was needed immediately.

Paul received information that there was still someone inside, Paul and Joel met up outside the South end of the Power House and with debris still falling and small spot fires, with out regard for their safety, entered the building at a service door east of the revolving door ( track 25 door) and began an immediate search for the reported missing powerhouse employee. An estimated 70 feet into the building with falling debris and water streaming from now broken fire hose reels they located the body of the only employee to lose his life immediately in the explosion.

Paul's recollection of the employee is," why was there a mannequin laying the middle of the floor?". Debris continued to rain down and for their own safety they realized nothing at the present could be done for the victim and felt it best to exit the building before they themselves became victims of the explosion.

Carlos had his hands full outside setting up temporary triage until further assistance from Station 3 arrived. There were over 30 injured and burned victims calling for help and asking if they were going to live. It was a scene none of those ever want to relive. Anyone in the area that could render assistance to the injured did so.

The time now is approximately 1317 it seemed like an eternity. Continuous training by the Ford Rouge Firefighters and Rouge Steel Firefighters now began to pay off as the chaotic scene began to take on some order.

Across the street about 100 feet away is a conference room on the north west corner of Gate 2 offices, a perfect location to get the injured and burned to safety and out of the mist that was turning to rain. The triage area was now located in that building.

On Paul's information the Rescue crew made its way to the south side, the road they took was between the Powerhouse #1 and the Pulverizer on the west side. It was littered with concrete, twisted steel and blown out glass. The best route, (it was the only route) and the Rescue crew arrived in one piece, vehicle intact, began to render assistance to the burned and injured.

Tonya who to this day would rather not discuss the tragedy, remembers the victims asking if they were going to live, how bad am I?, is there going to be another explosion?. Medical professionalism is what Tonya exhibited. She did her absolute best to comfort and treat those injured until more help from outside medical ambulances arrived.

At 1318 hours, Gary Dell the Rescue Crew driver, with an overview of the situation, immediately contacted Ford Security central station and requested the assistance of all available medical units. As the Ford rescue crew was performing their duties, other Ambulance units began to arrive. Their entrance was through Gate 2 just east of the Powerhouse #1.

Another decision had to be made as to where to stage all the incoming units. The decision by Gary was to move the Ambulance staging area, they would be staged at the SS Building on Dix Avenue. The SS building is about 1/16th of a mile from the site of the explosion. As one ambulance was filled the other was called in.

The ambulances arrived through gate 2, loaded the victims from the triage area inside the conference room at Gate 2 and left for the hospitals. The use of Med Flight evacuation was requested but with the low cloud ceiling that was impossible. All victims had to be transported by land.

The Rouge plant has its own medical facility located due north of the Powerhouse #1 and is staffed with doctors and nurses. By 1314 the first of the victims had arrived at Fords Gate 4 Medical facility by a company medical van that was fortunately outside the revolving door at the Power House #1. The medical van transported three or four of the most seriously burned victims. As the patients were dropped off doctors were transported back to the scene and triage areas.

Many Fire Departments assisted that day. Detroit sent 2 full alarm assignments, along with Melvindale, River Rouge, Allen Park, Dearborn Heights, Inkster Rescue and Dearborn. Ambulances from Concord EMS, American Medical Response, Huron Valley Ambulance, Medic One …………… all arrived within minutes of the explosion. We know there were many who responded that day, we apologize if any one was left out. The Ford Rouge Fire Department thanks everyone who assisted.

By 1320 hours the Ford Fire Department had all patients of the explosion to medical facilities or in route to such locations. The incident was far from over and the Ford Fire Fighters would spend the next 48 hours on the site of the explosion.

The most difficult job of all was at hand, to make sure all employees were accounted for. An extensive search and rescue operation was now the order of the day. The Ford Fire Department had three firefighters on duty that day with the rest of the Fire/Rescue team on pagers. The total came to 13 with one on medical and by 1400 hours all firefighters were on duty.

Our Fire Department has extensive training in Rope Rescue, High Angle, Confined Space, Incident Command and Shoring and Trench Rescue all members of I-35 are EMT-D and most are attending Paramedic classes. The mission that was accomplished that day speaks of the commitment this team puts forth on a daily basis to make sure the citizens of the Ford Motor Company are safe.

The names of the present day Ford Fire Fighters, Doug Hayes, Gary Dell, Butch Polanski, Peter Morelli, Rick Andrez, Tonya Ecckles, Kevin Kiernan, John Thiede, Rocky Papalia, Mark Wyman, Joel Barthlow, Carlos Tumpkin, Mike Reddmann and Rouge Steel Fire Fighter, Scott Noble. Brian Keith and Ricky Backstrom have since left for other fire departments.

Butch .. " When I entered gate 10 it almost seemed like a ghost town but yet at the same time hundreds of people and cars were scrambling, trying to exit. I entered the Station at 1338 hours and ran into Brian Keith who arrived minutes before me via a friend, an off duty police officer in an unmarked police vehicle. I asked him to wait until I geared up.

The station was pitch dark, all the emergency equipment gone, the big roll up doors had to be pushed up by hand. I felt my way to my locker by counting the locks, grabbed my turn out gear, rescue harness, and whatever other personal protection gear I could gather. In moments Brian and I jumped into the unmarked car and made our way to the scene. Rocky arrived to see us leave in the squad car. "

Traffic became a hindrance, Doug, Rocky, and Kevin were staged next to Rescue 304 and about 75 yards away was Engine-3 on the north side of Power House #1. On the south-side was Gary, Tonya, Scott, Joel, and Carlos, Rick, Ricky, Mark, and John.

Rocky and I drove Engine three around to the south-east side of the Powerhouse off Miller Road (this was about 1350 hours). The street was full, 3 or 4 ladders, 5 or 6 engines, a couple of squads and numerous ambulances waiting in the staging area. It was difficult walking over the twisted steel and dislodged bricks and broken glass that littered the area. The collapsed walls could be seen through the shattered windows. Eight stories up and every part of the building was scarred from the explosion.

The most difficult task of all was trying to get names and locations of persons that were in the building during the instant of the explosion. Was everyone accounted for? When Paul and Joel were in the building they knew and reported that one was dead, and had a report that possibly two or three more persons may be trapped inside the lower maintenance office below the fourth floor control room which continued to burn.

The first unofficial rescue team entered the building to search for those to be thought trapped in the maintenance office. The time was approximately 1405 hours. No one was located in the maintenance office, and due to falling debris everyone exited the building, it was made secure for further search and rescue operation.

Scott Noble.. " At about 1:05 p.m. Monday February 1, 1999 I was at the north west end of the Hot Strip Mill. I heard a call on the radio from the gate #4 guard yelling for Station #3 to respond to the Power House where there has been a large explosion. Station #3 said they would wait for a call and they would check it out. I then responded to Station #3. I made the jump seat on Engine #3.

We responded to the north end of the Power House. I heard a call for help on the south side. I went with Ford Fire Fighters to the south side to help with burn victims. Carlos and I then took one burn victim on a chair stretcher to Gate #2 area.

After that I went back with Ford Fire Fighters inside the Power House to search for more victims. We found one badly burned victim still on fire. I put him out with a fire hose. We continued to search the first floor maintenance office and paint storage area and found no other victims. I came out and helped search the rest of the Power House."

This was the first unrecorded team to enter and search, John, Ricky, Carlos and a Dearborn Fire Fighter worked with Scott. The body was removed from the building at approximately 1520 hours.

The task of accountability was far from over. It became apparent with so many fire departments on the scene communications were difficult. There were Firefighters from 6 different communities, the count stood at 125 plus at one time.

Due to the fact that there were many departments on different radio frequencies, it was difficult to communicate to all at the same time. Despite the building being made off limits, firefighters continued to move in and out of the building. At times it was hard to carry on a conversation as news helicopters hovered just below the low ceiling waiting to capture the unexpected.

Butch .." Search and rescue training would dictate the correct procedure and avoid another situation. At this time I was standing 80 feet from the collapsed revolving door, and about 10 feet east of a ladder truck which was being used as a makeshift south-end command center as were several fire officers discussing the situation.

Walking over to the visiting officers, the decision was made to make our department pick-up a command check point for everyone entering and exiting the building. This command check point would be utilized for the next two days for search and rescue operations."

By this time most of the other assisting fire departments were relieved of their duties and the Ford Fire Department in conjunction with the Dearborn Fire Department would run the rest of the operation. The time now was approaching 1545 hours.

The Ford Fire Fighters having the most comprehensive knowledge of the buildings, Rescue teams would consist of 4 person teams, two from the Ford Fire Department and two from the Dearborn Fire Department. This is what gave lead to the Ford Fire Fighters being team leaders during the search and rescue.

Search and Rescue operations commenced at 1610, with the first team consisting of Rick, Carlos and two Dearborn Fire Fighters. The search started at the 8th floor and worked their way to the 6th floor, with the team leader in constant communication with command check point. Location, and conditions were reported in every 5 minutes, and a 4 man back-up team (Red Team) would relieve each team on a half hour basis, with the next 4 man team scheduled to enter, replacing the back-up team (Red Team) that entered the building.

The size of the building dictated the use of more than one 4 man team. The teams would take on designations as Team #1 and Team #2 etc.. After each team returned they were debriefed, and their movement throughout the building was recorded. International rule of marking each area checked was utilized.

Carlos….." Being a member of the first group to enter the building to start search and rescue one of the main thoughts racing through my mind as we made our way up the stairwell to the 8th floor, was that every corner we turned I expected to find victims stacked like cord wood. All of the little cubbie holes where guys would hang out during normal operations. Everyplace where you would expect to see someone (control rooms, locker rooms, etc.) I felt like we were in a giant game of hide and seek with us doing the seeking.

At times I had a morbid sense of disappointment when we were not finding anyone. I guess because my adrenaline level being so high in excitement, fear, and anticipation while performing this task.. This disappointment mainly came from the fact that our mission was to find victims to help them and there were no victims. After all search and rescue were completed this feeling turned into joy and relief after my senses returned to somewhat normal levels."

The Ford Firefighters who participated in the Search and Rescue the first day were: Brian, Ricky, Joel, Scott, Rocky, Mark, John, Rick, Kevin.

Still not sure if other victims were buried under any debris, the Michigan State Police Dog Teams arrived at 1645 hours and by 1743 hours three new team designations were utilized, each consisting of a Michigan State Police dog handler two Ford Fire Fighters and one Dearborn Fire Fighter.

Carlos… " An interesting fact about working with the dog teams was that the dog handlers were very adamant about once the search and rescue teams were established that we were to stay together throughout the incident. The reason for this was so the dogs would not be confused by new team members scent. The handler wanted to keep the original teams together to combat this situation."

The first Dog team to enter remained in the building for one hour and forty-one minutes. Those members included Tim… the handler, Scott… and two DFF's. Their area of coverage was not limited to one or two specific floors, but where ever the dog may have found a scent. Needless to say this team was pretty exhausted by the time they exited the Power House. The same holds true for the other Dog teams to enter the building, their search was not limited to anything but their exhaustion.

Participating on the Dog Teams were: Gary the handler, Carlos and Ricky, Dave the handler, Mark and John and Tim the handler and Rick.

During the re-entry of dog team #1, up on the seventh floor the dog also equipped with a safety harness came to prove how necessary PPE can be. In the dogs relentless pursuit he fell through a opening in the floor and was fortunate to land on some pipes about three feet below. Rick was instrumental in saving the dog from further harm.

Day one of the Power House #1 Search and Rescue came to a close at 2026 hours, after a debrief and plans for follow up Search and Rescue to begin at 8 a.m. the next day. Exhausted, hungry, wet and dirty the Rescue Team returned to the Station.

As I recall, it had been empty, bay doors open, dark and unheated for the past 8 hours. The emergency contingency plan Ford put into effect was unparalleled. Portable heat, lights and generators and any other accommodation to bring civility back to the plant was well underway. The highest priority now was to get some rest and continue tomorrow.

On February 2, 1999 at 0645 hours we held our meeting and geared up for another 24 hours of unexpected events. We did know this much from day one, our plan worked well and Search and Rescue operations were well ordered.

We arrived at the south-end of the Power House #1 at 0745. The Salvation Army relief truck in place, a new command post located near by and the Michigan State Police with the Rescue Dogs ready to go. We still had to expect the unknown, and the Michigan State Police brought with them a cadaver dog, specially trained to locate human remains.

Participating in day two of the Dog Team search was: Carlos, John, Brian, Scott, Kevin, Mark, Rick and Ricky including the three dog handlers.

There would be two more teams to enter the building. A couple of work stations were inaccessible and a search camera would be utilized to secure the remaining areas. This team consisted of Ron (camera), Rick and two Dearborn Fire Fighters. Entry was at 1255 hours. While their search went on a team consisting of Pete and Mark entered to tape off hazards.

It was apparent no other victims would be found. The names of all employees and there whereabouts were accounted for. Twenty-five hours after the worst industrial explosion in US history, the building was empty, spot fires extinguished. The rest would be left to the investigators. Our job was far from over.

On the fifth floor of the Power House coal bunkers which still held fuel for the now cold and silent furnaces continued to burn. To keep the fire in the bunkers in check, from time to time, fire fighters would go up and place blocks of dry ice into the bunkers to keep the fire in check.. There were several occasions were fire hose had to be stretched to the fifth floor to contain this hot spot. The coal was eventually removed from the Power House.

Our schooling in confined space rescue, fire fighting, high angle rescue, incident command classes, license re-newel every three years as Emergency Medical Technicians-D’s, and numerous other annual required refresher training classes to continually stay compliant with all current Local, State, and Federal safety standards.

In the Rouge Fire Department we know we played an integral part in bringing this Complex back on line.

Before the explosion we were a 15 man team working 3 eight hour shifts. After the explosion to best utilize our manpower and protect the Company and its employees, the Fire Department, along with our management, implemented a three platoon 5 man 24 hour operation. Everyone felt this was the best use of manpower and equipment. Once again we are operating with 13 Professional Fire Fighters on 3 eight hour shifts.

One last thought, after all the hard work was done I remember most vividly the Union Hall of Local 600. People everywhere, standing, sitting in row after row. Their purpose, to donate blood to the most needy of the burn victims. In a world that seems not to care for one another, nothing could be further from the truth, if you were there to witness those who really cared.

This article was not written to depict any of the Ford Fire Fighters as heroes, a recognition none of us want. It is written to let others know that we do exist. The last year has been very trying for those in the department, those who put their lives on the line and their families aside every day for the plant population and property. Article after article has been written around us and not about us. The investigative reporting seems to by-pass the most involved, it's time others know what we did that day as a Professional Fire Fighting unit.

International Association of Fire Fighters

Ford Motor Company

Local I-35, Dearborn, Michigan