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Ann Arbor fire department urges caution after generator fire

Generators should be outside, 20 feet away from structures

An Ann Arbor Fire Department truck. (Sarah Parlette, WDIV)

ANN ARBOR – Officials are urging residents to be cautious after putting out a generator fire at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23.

The incident was caused by a fuel leak, which caused two generators to catch on fire as well as a house on the 2300 block of Nixon Road.

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There were no injuries and the fire did not spread inside the home, officials wrote on social media.

A severe winter storm on Wednesday, Feb. 22, knocked out power to more than 25,000 homes in Ann Arbor. Within 24 hours of the storm, firefighters responded to more than 300 incidents, fire department officials said.

Community members were reminded to keep generators outside and at least 20 feet away from structures.

The fire department also shared these tips:

  • place generators outside, at least 20 feet from homes and downwind from open windows, doors and vents
  • turn generators off for 15-20 minutes before refueling
  • never plug a generator into a wall outlet when trying to power a house,
  • power appliances with an outdoor extension cord connected to a generator
  • do not use generators in wet and rainy conditions
  • have a fire extinguisher close by
  • have operating fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home

About the Author
Sarah Parlette headshot

Sarah has worked for WDIV since June 2018. She covers community events, good eats and small businesses in Ann Arbor and has a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics from Grand Valley State University.

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