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Detroit has near record low for Angels' Night fires in 2016

Posted at 5:06 AM, Nov 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-01 12:32:47-04

Detroit city officials are calling the 2016 Angels' Night volunteer campaign a success, thanks to a near record-low number of fires during the three day period.

This is the second year in a row the city saw fewer than 60 fires. It's also half the number of fires seen annually just a few years ago. when that average number was near 100.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, along with the Detroit police chief and fire chief provided an update on the Angels' night campaign on Tuesday morning.

2016 saw a total of 59 fires: 39 of those were structure fires, while 6 were car fires and another 14 were either trash or garage fires.

That compares to just two years ago, when Detroit firefighters responded to 97 total fires in 2014. Last year was the lowest number of fires in decades, with only 52.

Volunteers say the joint effort between fire, police and the public is making a difference.

The number of Halloween fires in the city has fallen greatly since a high of more than 800 in 1984.

Angels' Night now consists of thousands of volunteers patrolling the streets, and watching over their neighbors's property, trying to keep arsonists at bay.

Stay with WXYZ.com for updates.