On our last night out, the radio was very quiet.  We sat at I94 & Livernois with one radio on Detroit and one scanning the CB channels, as the Canadian Border Patrol, upset about stalled contract negotiations, had instituted a work action.  All trucks heading into Canada were subject to a "by the book" inspection.  This resulted in major backups on all highways in Detroit as truckers had to wait 8-10 hours to make the crossing.  The CB traffic was hilarious.

While watching and listening, Detroit stilled out companies for a motor vehicle collision at Vernor Highway and the I96 Service Rd.  I really didn't pay much attention until an update included information that a bus was involved and the bus was reportedly into a building.  By surface roads, it was a 6 minute ride.

   

Hamtramck Engine 3
   

After leaving the fire at Kirkland and Braden, we encountered I94 westbound closed at M39 and had to get off the highway.  While rerouting around what we later found out to be an accident scene with a fatality, I turned on WWJ 950, Detroit's news radio station.  Their lead story was a fire that had burned most of the night in an apartment complex at Joy Rd and Hix in Westland.  GPS told us 20 minutes and there was a little convincing of @emtchris67 but we started that way.  This is what we found.
   

After leaving the fire on Rosedale Court, we headed back to our spot at Livernois and I94.  After a while, it was getting late and we started back to the hotel....the loooong way.  We were in the extreme northwest corner of the city when a box alarm was transmitted for Seven Mile and Fleming.  GPS put us at 16 minutes out, by the time we got there it was completely under control and we didn't even get out of the car.  Start the ride back again and Engine 34 gets stilled out for a garage fire at Kirkland and Braden-5 minutes or less from the I94/Livernois spot.  We didn't even think about heading to it....until....Engine 34 requested a commercial box for two dwellings and a garage well involved.  18 minutes by GPS.  Here's what we arrived to.
   

Proof of how good these guys are.  A box alarm was transmitted for a building fire in the vicinity of Oakland and Rosedale Court.  The GPS said 16 minutes from where we were, I made it in about 14.  The first arriving Engine's report was that the second due should be ready to dump their monitor.  Here is what we arrived to.
   

After watching the Red Sox lose, we were sitting at Livernois and I-94 when we heard an engine and truck stilled out to a shed fire.  I put the address into the GPS and it showed 5 minutes away.  I figured "what the heck?' and we were off.  Definitely worth the ride.  The fire was in a one story garage.
   

While leaving the fire on Farnsworth, a box alarm was sent for State Fair and Yacama.  It was 15 minutes away, but eneded up being about a 20 minute ride because of ramp closures.  The building was behind some trees and had been the site of a previous fire.  Chief 8 reported that the building was going throughout upon his arrival and theat the first company would be stretching.  The Chief updated that the building was the scene of a previous fire and that a defensive stance would be employed.

   

This was a quick job where companies found the back of a dwelling well involved.  Not much to see when we got there.
   

In memory of my longtime buddy Jay Kormann. This was one of his favorite apparatus. It originally served his local FD and later served Hickory Valley FD in Sparta, TN. Jay's Grandfather wrote the specs.

Truck 2414, Lakes Fire Company, Medford, NJ
1973 Imperial D-10
1000/1000
#I-586

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Firepics regrets to announce the death of member Jay Kormann, user name FireScooby.  Jay was a member of the Firepics OneGroup, Yahoo Group and had been a member of the message boards since they went live in 2004.  His love of the fire service is paralleled by very few and he brought a vast knowledge and enthusiasm to this little corner of the web.  If you ever had the chance to talk to him in person or on the phone, you instantly became aware that he was a truly nice person and will be missed.