Deputy injured in structure fire

An Oakland County Sheriff's deputy and a 64-year-old Rochester Hills resident sustained minor injuries on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 18, during a structure fire in the 200 block of Sandalwood Drive.

Deputies and firefighters with the Rochester Hills Fire Department responded about 3:18 p.m. to the report of a structure fire with flames visible inside the attached garage. Further information relayed to dispatchers was that the homeowner was unaccounted for.

Upon arrival, deputies observed the homeowner attempting to enter the garage, which was fully engulfed in fire.

The first arriving deputy entered the garage, grabbed the homeowner and instructed him that they had to leave the garage. Sheriff's officials said debris was falling from the ceiling of the garage onto the deputy and homeowner as the resident was attempting to retrieve his Harley Davidson motorcycle from the garage.

The deputy was able to escort the homeowner away from the fire and to a safe location. While assisting the resident, the deputy fell over the homeowner and injured his leg. He sustained abrasions to his shin and a cut to his knee.

The homeowner sustained minor burns to his forehead while inside the garage.

The homeowner told deputies he and his son were at home when he heard the smoke detectors activate. He then looked into the garage and saw black smoke. The man then alerted his son and he began moving vehicles out of the driveway and tried removing the motorcycle from the garage.

The residents were unaware of how the fire may have started. The fire spread throughout the house and damage was extensive.

Paramedics treated the homeowner for injuries, but he refused to be transported to an area hospital for further evaluation. The deputy was treated at Ascension-Crittenton Hospital and was taken off duty to recover.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.