CANTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A family is navigating an unimaginable loss after a fire tore through their home at the Glen Ridge Mobile Home Park in Canton Township.
Meanwhile, a 4-year-old boy remains hospitalized in critical condition.
“I’m heartbroken,” said Michelle Roe, a neighbor. “I mean, how do you get over something like that? You don’t.”
The fire was so massive that an eyewitness driving on I-275 said he had to pull over.
“You could see it like an orange ball – just a huge orange ball of fire,” Mike Conroy said.
Wendy Herdell told Local 4 the mother ran to Herdell’s house while her boys were home.
“There was a knock at the door, the mom was screaming, ‘Call 911. We need help,’” Herdell said.
Herdell’s sons quickly learned two of the three children couldn’t be found.
The boys tried to help during the search, but their asthma forced them to leave the burning home, according to their mother.
Herdell said her children are not doing well following the deadly house fire.
“They’re not good,” Herdell said. “They’re just sick. They feel terrible that they couldn’t do more.”
When the pair were discovered, crews rushed the family for medical treatment.
“We’re just so tore up,” Herdell said. “They’ve lost everything. We’ve lived by them for eight years. They’re a wonderful, loving family, and we’ve loved them like they’re our family.”
While her family felt helpless, what they could do was take in their neighbor’s puppy.
Miraculously, the dog survived the flames and spent the night in the charred house.
The following morning, the pup emerged and ran into Herdell’s arms.
“We can’t bring their kids back. We can’t buy them a new house, but we’re loving on their dog while they’re not able to care for her,” Herdell said.
As for helping the family, the Canton Police Department has something set up to help coordinate resources.
Meanwhile, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.