MICHIGAN
LANSING - Although the Lansing Fire Department is usually called on to extinguish fires, it spent Wednesday morning lighting one - all for good reasons, of course.
In a small brick room at the Lansing Fire Department Training Center, Battalion Chief Larry Martin lit a flare and set it at the base of a decorated Christmas tree as firefighters armed with hoses looked on.
Within seconds, a smoke detector sounded and the tree was barely visible, first lost in smoke, then engulfed in flames.
However, the staged fire wasnt just for Grinch-like kicks.
We wanted to get the word out there that before you (put lights on your) tree, make sure your home is adequately equipped with smoke detectors, said Gary Burkart, vice president of Flagstar Bank, which sponsored the demonstration as part of its Safety First program.
The program gives away thousands of free or discounted smoke alarms to people across the state.