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Officials Once Again Call On Citizens To Help Keep 'Angel's Night' Streets Safe

DETRIOT (WWJ) -- With the Halloween approaching, just two weeks away, Detroit Police and firefighters are continuing the call for Angel's Night volunteers.

Detroit Executive Fire Commissioner Edsel Jenkins credits the growing participation of Angel's Night citizen volunteers with the continued decline in arson fires being seen throughout the city.

"They love fireman, they love what we do and they look out for us," Jenkins said. "We get calls all the time about dangerous buildings, about hydrants out of service, so the public is really aware that protecting the city from the ravage of fires is really something that everyone needs to participate in."

In 2013, 95 arson fires were reported across the city during the three-day period surrounding Halloween -- a dramatic decrease from the days of over 800 fires back in the mid-80s.

"If you see something that's amidst, in regard to a fire being set, dial 911 and report what you see and keep going," Jenkins said. "Don't get involved and don't put yourself in danger, leave that for the Detroit Police Department."

As a 37-year veteran of the Detroit Fire Department, Jenkins recalled first-hand the devastating Devil's Nights of Detroit's past.

"There were days back in the late-70s and '80s where we literally ran almost 24 hours a day," Jenkins said. "With the new mayor, with the new direction, with the blight authority taking out on average anywhere between 200 to 250 home per week, we're going in the right direction."

Residents are once again being encouraged to keep their porch lights on -- and their eyes open -- in the days leading up to Halloween.

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