Detroit Working to Stem Halloween Weekend Fires

DETROIT - This weekend, Detroit could feature a rivalry between angels and devils. However, the team of angles is working hard to make sure the good guys win this battle.

Plenty of Detroit neighborhoods have really embraced the idea that Devils' Night is now Angels' Night. The Detroit Police and Fire Departments are working to make sure it stays that way.

"We like to turn around and make it into something positive," said Detroit Police Sergeant Daniel Williams.

A night that once prompted fear is being transformed one year at a time. For years, Devils' Night was marked by flames, but today Angels' Night has a far different purpose.

"(We) don't have as many people out there doing the little things that made Devils' Night dangerous for our kids," said Stephen Williams.

Detroit police and firefighters want to make sure that doesn't change.

"We have proactive patrols in areas that have been identified through fire statistics as hot spots for fires, and also we try to utilize the statistics from last year's Angels' Night to identify areas where we need to concentrate manpower," Sgt. Williams said.

Plus, the city will once again enforce some strict regulations. Kids 17 and younger are not allowed on the streets without an adult on the following dates and times:

Normal curfew hours for Thursday, October 28:
For minors age 15 and younger: begin at 10 p.m. on Thursday and end at 6 a.m. on Friday.For minors ages 16 and 17: begin at 11 p.m. on Thursday and end at 6 a.m. on Friday.

Emergency curfew hours for Friday, October 29:
Minors 18 years of age and younger: begin at 6 p.m. on Friday and end at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday

Emergency curfew hours for Saturday, October 30:
Minors 18 years of age and younger: begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday and end at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday

Normal curfew hours for Sunday, October 31:
For minors age 15 and younger: begin at 10 p.m. on Sunday and end at 6 a.m. on Monday.For minors ages 16 and 17: begin at 11 p.m. on Sunday and end at 6 a.m. on Monday.

Youth in violation of the applicable curfew will be transported to the police station of the district or precinct in which they are stopped.

Plus, no one will be allowed to fill up or carry portable containers with gas or other flammable liquids in the city of Detroit between Wednesday, October 27 and Sunday, October 31 at 11:59 p.m. unless they're over 18 and it's one of the following emergency situations:

• A stalled vehicle
• Heating a residence
• Emergency generator

If a person requests gas in a portable container, the service station will be required to record their name, address, fuel amount and location of any stalled vehicle, which will be provided to the Detroit Fire Marshal's Office.

However, even officials realize all the rules and regulations wouldn't mean a thing if it wasn't for the community.

"We have many, many thousands of dedicated volunteers that have been volunteering for years in this effort," said Detroit Assistant Fire Marshal Osric Wilson. "We've got thousands of new volunteers, and all that, I believe, is going to go a long way."

Detroiters such as Stephen Williams have already seen the impact in their own neighborhoods, and they're hoping this year will be no different.

"You see a lot more people pushing towards their neighborhood being one of the ones you can come to trick or treat in," Stephen Williams said.

Click here for more information on the Angels' Night campaign.