VBT house fire kills teenager, sends six to hospital

UPDATE: Belleville High School freshman Savion Robinson, 14, died in a house fire early Sunday morning after helping his family members escape the blaze.
Van Buren Township fire fighters were called to 47515 Denton Road at about 4 a.m. Sunday and when fire fighters arrived the home was fully engulfed in flames.
A family of two women and five children were living in the home and an 18-month-old child was pulled out the front door by VBT fire fighter John Henderson. The rest of the family were out of the house, but Savion was missing.
A next-door neighbor, Don Buckenberger, said the nine-year-old girl ran from the house to pound on their door for help. Later it was said Savion guided her to the door of the burning house to go get help.
Jodi Buckenberger said another child was walking down the road screaming. She said at first the fire was just smoke, but then flames erupted. She said the families on both sides of the burning house were evacuated by fire fighters.
The Buckenbergers called 911 while Don ran over with a flashlight to see if he could help. He shined his light in the front door and said he saw the 18-month-old inside at the foot of the stairs and he believes Savion moved her closer to the door so she could be saved. He heard Savion’s voice inside and called Savion “a hero.”
The roof was beginning to cave in and his wife urged him not to enter. Buckenberger’s back was singed.
VBT Public Safety Director Gregory Laurain said Fire Fighter Henderson, who had just suited up, went inside and carried the girl out.
The 18-month-old was first reported to have expired at the scene, but that information was revised and she continues to cling to life.
Savion was missing for several hours and his body was found by Belleville fire fighters at about 8:45 a.m. in the lower level at the back of the house.
Three children were taken to Mott Children’s Hospital in critical condition and one in stable condition. One woman was taken to the University of Michigan Hospital. Huron Valley Ambulance had five ambulances at the scene. Later, the second woman was taken to the hospital.
One of the women jumped from a deck or window at the back of the house with a four-month-old infant in her arms. She broke her leg and was pulled away from the house by neighbors. Then, neighbors said, a sparking electrical line dropped next to the woman with the broken leg and she was dragged to the front of the house.
Then the gas line erupted and VBT Fire called DTE to dig up the front yard and shut off the gas. VBT Public Safety Director Greg Laurain said flames were as high as the big trees in the yard from the gas fire.
Neighbors were traumatized by the blaze in their normally quiet neighborhood — and there were lots of tears. One neighbor said the family was believed to be squatters since the house was foreclosed on four years ago with stickers on the windows and all the utilities shut off. It is owned by a bank, they said. Neighbors said there had been illegal electrical hookups they could see.
Neighbors said they had been battling a series of squatters on the property and different families had moved in and out. The grass was often three feet tall and they burned trash in the fireplace for heat. Two years ago there were charges of animal abuse at the home and the animals were removed.
One neighbor said she believed the township did everything it could legally to get rid of the squatters. She said the bank had a buyer for the property, but told the buyers they would have to get rid of the squatters, so the buyers backed off.
She said fire fighters did a phenomenal job in putting out the fire.
VBT Public Safety officials and state fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire. There was talk of candles in the house, but that is only preliminary information.
Assisting VBT Fire Department at the scene were Belleville and Sumpter Township Fire Departments, Michigan State Police, MSP Fire Marshal and VBT and Belleville Police.
Director Laurain said Belleville Police heard what was happening over the police radio and came on their own to help, although they were just getting off their night assignment and could have gone home.
VBT Fire Chief Dan Besson was out of town for the weekend but was kept informed of the activities, Director Laurain said.
Van Buren Public Schools Superintendent Michael Van Tassel put a letter online that sent prayers to the family of Savion and alerted parents that social workers and counselors would be available to students for as long as necessary.
On Sunday night, police and fire officers had a debriefing. Director Laurain said the incident took a toll on the officers and they were able to share their feelings at the meeting.
Several groups are accepting donations for the family including Van Buren Police Officers Association and Van Buren Fire Fighters Association, who are accepting checks, clothes, and other physical items at Mail Center One, 847 Sumpter Rd. Also a youcaring account has been set up for credit card accounts.