By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — A Dearborn Heights man died after a fire broke out in a mobile home Oct. 18 at Riverside Properties Mobile Home Park, 17297 Outer Drive.
The 60-year-old man, identified as Dennis Diacova, was transported to Beaumont Hospital-Dearborn where he died of his injuries.
Firefighters were called to the scene at 7 a.m. after neighbors observed the smoke in the park. Once at the scene, firefighters worked to extinguish the fire that was burning from the back of the mobile home.
“When firefighters entered the trailer they found the man unconscious in the living room,” Fire Chief Dave Brogan said. “It was possible he was attempting to leave the trailer when the fire started but couldn’t make it out on time.”
First responders were able to revive Diacova with CPR on the way to the hospital, where he later died.
Firefighters were able to find a melted smoke detector in the mobile home which was believed to have no batteries.
“The man’s life could have been saved if he had working smoke detectors,” Brogan said. “I urge everyone to always check if their smoke detectors are functioning properly.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation and no other trailers were affected by the fire.
“The fire is currently ruled as accidental,” Brogan said. “We believe the fire did not start from any utilities inside the trailer.”
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])