Arsonist tosses molotov cocktail at occupied Detroit firehouse Saturday night

It’s hard to imagine a more thankless job than being a firefighter for the city of Detroit.

Just months after Mayor Dave Bing slashed firefighter wages by 10%, closed firehouses and cut money for arson investigators and safety equipment, arsonists are striking at an alarming rate, leveling entire blocks and terrorizing neighborhoods.

If that’s not enough, someone late Saturday night tossed a molotov cocktail at the Engine 58 building on Whittier on the city’s northeast side while overworked firefighters were resting inside.

Luckily no one was injured because the cocktail failed to light.

The latest incident is yet another slap in the face to firefighters who are forced to battle more blazes with less gear.

In the past few months, thieves also have brazenly stolen equipment at fire scenes.

This comes at a time when arsonists are growing more courageous as they ignite abandoned and occupied houses at an alarming rate.

  Arsons, detroit, Engine 58, Fire department, Firefighters, Molotov Cocktail, steve

Steve Neavling

Steve Neavling lives and works in Detroit as an investigative journalist. His stories have uncovered corruption, led to arrests and reforms and prompted FBI investigations.

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