Final Angels' Night Patrols In Detroit
DETROIT (WWJ) - For a third and final night, thousands of volunteers brave rainy and windy conditions in an effort to prevent arson fires in the city of Detroit.
City officials won't release official fire numbers until Friday, but crews battled a few dozen fires Wednesday night including one that left two firefighters with minor injuries. Angelo Brown was among the hundreds of volunteers at the Patton Recreation Center. He says there appears to be less support this year from police and other safety officials.
"We're not the police, we need the police out there. We need city workers with trucks and things to support us," says Brown.
Brown has been keeping watch over neighborhoods on the city's southwest side.
"It looks like it's a little better on this side of town. I've heard some things about some other sides of town, but this area seems to be a little better this year," says Brown.
Detroiter Kathryn Newfall has been volunteering for Angels Night for several years, and says there were fewer people helping out this year than in years past.
"There wasn't very many volunteers out there as the years before, but I live and grew up in Detroit so I'm not ready to give up on it yet," says Newfall.
On Wednesday night, investigators found evidence of gasoline used at two fires in occupied homes. No serious injuries were reported. Last year, officials reported there were 93 fires across the city during the three-day Angels' Night period.
