Fatal fire could spur ordinance changes

TEXAS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - After a house holding 15 people caught fire and the blaze killed four children, the Texas Township planning commission is considering adding or changing some ordinances.

Patricia Jordan, who rented the house, said she had taken down malfunctioning smoke detectors and was allowing her extended family to live in the house.

Texas Township has no ordinances that govern rental properties. Because the people staying at Jordan's rental house were all relatives, there were no rules against that. But in the wake of the blaze, changes will be discussed.

"We haven't had a fatality, a fire fatality in Texas Township since 1954," Texas Township Supervisor Dave Healy said. "When something like this happens, then you're always asking yourself, was there something that we could have done?

"We don't want to have a knee-jerk reaction on this, but when something happens of significance, it causes you to reflect and take another look at what can be done to make sure things like this don't happen again in the future."

The city will consider an ordinance that would mandate the presence of smoke detectors in rental properties, Healy said. City officials also will discuss the possibility of adding safeguards to the number of people that can live in a rental space.

If you would like to help the family, donations can be made to the American Red Cross. For more information on how you can help, please call the organization at (269) 353-6180.