State Fire Marshal: Cause of Denton Road fire is ‘undetermined’

The cause of a December house fire in Van Buren Township that killed a teenager and seriously burned a young child is officially “undetermined.”
VBT Fire Chief Dan Besson said on Thursday that his department received the final report from the State Fire Marshal the previous week.
S/Sgt. Todd Pelletier of the Michigan State Police concluded the following origin and cause:
“Due to the extent of the fire damage done to the structure, including structural collapse of the two-story section, a specific origin could not be identified. Based upon occupant statements, the fire was first observed in the basement. The cause will be classified as undetermined.”
VBT Public Safety Director Greg Laurain said his department’s fire investigators worked with the State Fire Marshal’s office and the cause could not be determined when all potential causes could not reasonably be ruled out.
Savion Robinson, 14, a Belleville High School freshman, died Dec. 13 in the fire that swept through his home at 47515 Denton Road. Reportedly, he had helped his family members escape from the blaze, but was not able to get out himself.
An 18-month-old girl, Amariyana Wells, was pulled out of the blaze by VBT Fire Lt. John Henderson and Henderson visited her at Mott Children’s Hospital during her long treatment for burns and recovery. The girl was recently released from the hospital and is reported to be recovering.
The house was the home of two women and five children. Fire fighters were called about 4 a.m. and when they arrived the house was fully engulfed in flames.
Savion was missing for several hours after the fire was extinguished. His body was found around 8:45 a.m. by Belleville fire fighters in the lower level at the back of the house.