Accidental Gunshot Starts House Fire in Macomb Sunday

Macomb Township Fire Chief Roberts Phillips said he believes it was the accidental firing of a pistol that resulted in a house fire Sunday in the 48000 block of Daisy Drive.

Phillips said investigators have ruled that the fire, which started around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, started when a pistol wrapped in newspaper accidentally discharged, catching the newspaper on fire. The pistol and newspaper were then dropped to the floor where the carpet caught on fire, Phillips said.

A man and his daughter were living in the home at the time, but both escaped the fire unharmed.

The fire was put out within a few minutes, but investigators remained on the scene until 6:30 p.m., Phillips said.

As for the cause, “We have ruled it as an accident,” Phillips said.