By AP
DETROIT – Firefighters from a half-dozen suburban communities were quick to assist Detroit crews struggling to contain blazes that burned 85 structures while sweeping through
pockets of city neighborhoods.
City fire officials say the assistance was rare. They say that despite budget and manpower cuts, Detroit usually is first to lend a hand.
Harper Woods Deputy Fire Chief Jim Burke said his department did not even wait for a request for help when two east side houses and four garages caught fire just across its city limits with Detroit.
Burke said "Detroit had nobody there at all" when the fire was reported. He said a single city rig had showed up by the time his crews arrived.