An Addison Township family has been devastated by the loss of two loved ones in a sudden house explosion that happened shortly before 6:30 p.m., Monday night, on Haven Rd. just north of Leonard Rd.
Longtime Addison Township resident Mike Rivest and his 20-month-old son became trapped in their burning home after a large explosion destroyed the building. Rivest’s six-year-old son escaped the blaze. His wife Karen and eight-year-old daughter were not home at the time of the accident.
According to reports from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, the call for the fire came in to dispatch at 6:20 p.m. Addison Twp. Substation Commander Sgt. Pete Burkett said Deputy M. Summers was the first on the scene, followed shortly by Deputy M. Schmitzerle.
“The two deputies arrived to find the house fully engulfed in flames,” said Burkett. “A neighbor came running forth and told them there were still people inside.”
The Addison Twp. fire department received the page for a large house fire at 6:30 p.m. Fire Chief George Spencer said firefighters arrived to find the 2,500-square-foot, two-story log cabin home completely ablaze. Emergency personnel immediately began searching for the trapped family members.
“Because of the extent of the fire a rescue operation was not possible,” said Addison Fire Chief George Spencer.
Mutual assistance arrived quickly from the Oxford, Oakland Twp. and Dryden Twp. fire departments. The Oxford Fire Department sent one engine and one tanker. Assistant Fire Chief Pete Scholz said that the engine used a nearby lake to supply the water, but could not travel up the driveway to get to the home.
“It was really treacherous getting up to the house,” said Oxford Assistant Fire Chief Pete Scholz. “It was set back with one of those long driveways that was up a hill. We ended up supplying the tankers from the roadway.”
“Road conditions were really the most treacherous for our men because of the icy conditions,” he added. “They made the job tough, especially getting to the home.”
“(Oxford Fire Lt.) Terry Roeher said it best when he commented ‘The weather was against us, the ice was against us, the driveway was against us – everything that could go wrong went wrong before we even got the tone to respond,’” said Chief Spencer.
Additional police assistance was also called in from the surrounding areas, and Sergeants Burkett and Walker arrived on scene. Sgt. Burkett said canine units, search units and the sheriff’s department’s five man fire investigation unit were all called. The officers secured the perimeter of the home and assisted family members.
Chief Spencer said knocking out the major part of the fire in the first hour took between 30 and 35 firefighters. Another three hours more were spent cleaning up the scene and putting out hot spots.
“The guys said they could hear small explosions afterwards, but were uncertain of the source,” said Scholz.
The sheriff’s fire investigation units were able to move into the destroyed structure shortly after 2 a.m. According to reports, the two victims were discovered in the home shortly after, and the medical examiner’s office was finally able to retrieve the bodies of Mr. Rivest and his son at 3 a.m. The six-year-old, who was able to escape the fire, was found by a neighbor before emergency personnel even arrived on scene.
“What began the awareness of the problem was a neighbor noticing the little boy wondering around outside, and she had the mother’s cell phone number, so she called and asked her why her son was out at that time of night,” explained Burkett. “The woman went out to retrieve the child and the mother headed home immediately after that.”
According to Chief Spencer, the young boy escaped by crawling through a kitchen window, a fire drill technique his father had practiced with him over and over. He added that the family even went so far as not to keep a screen on that window so the youngster could get out easier.
“The six-year-old was rescued due to learning fire drills and practicing them over and over again with his family,” said Spencer. “That child survived due to his training, not his instinct. His father may not have carried him out of that home, but he saved his child’s life.”
Karen Rivest and the couple’s eight-year-old daughter, who had been at a dance class, arrived on scene while firefighters were still fighting the blaze. The surviving family members were taken to a neighbor’s home where they were cared for by friends and emergency personnel.
“There was a lot of support from family, friends and the community that night,” said Burkett.
The mutual aid fire departments cleared the scene at 3:40 a.m. and the police assistance cleared at 4 a.m. Oxford Fire Department continued covering for the Addison Twp. department at their station until 6 a.m.
As of press time, the Oakland County Sheriff’s fire investigation unit was still searching the scene. Capt. Newman stated that no cause or origination for the blaze has yet to be determined, but the focus is heading towards the liquid propane heating system.
* * *
The Rivest family is currently staying with friends and family. Mike Rivest, who owned a landscaping and excavating company, was a well-known and active member in the community. Addison Township officials described him as a helpful community member always ready to do what was needed. Township Supervisor Bob Koski said he remembers him most for his work with the watershed park, which included installing the culverts in the area.
“He was a good guy,” said Township Supervisor Bob Koski. “He was always willing to do things and help. Always offering whatever he had to offer.”