Pike Pole Pierces Cheek of Detroit Firefighter

Oct. 11--A Detroit firefighter is recovering this evening after an attic floor collapsed underneath him and a piece of equipment pierced his cheek.

"It was a freak accident," Deputy Fire Commissioner Jonathan Jackson said.

Jackson said 33-year-old Adam Mlinarich was crawling through the attic of a home on the 4000 block of McGraw, near Livernois and Warren, checking for hot spots when the floor gave way. It was just before 6 p.m., and firefighters were nearly finished putting out a fire at the house.

Another firefighter was standing on the floor below with a pike pole, a fiberglass tool that is a little larger in diameter than a broomstick and topped a metal hook and sharp point.

Jackson said as Mlinarich fell, his face struck the top of the 6-foot pole.

"It went through his left cheek and impacted his jaw," Jackson said, with the top three or four inches going through his cheek. No one else was injured at the scene.

Jackson said Mlinarich was taken to Henry Ford Hospital and is in stable condition. He said he was hopeful that he would be able to go home Friday morning.

"He's pretty fortunate," Jackson said. "It could have been a whole lot worse, if it struck him in the eye."

Jackson said Mlinarich, the son of a retired battalion chief, is assigned to Engine 34. He has been with the fire department for 13 years.

"He's one of our youngest and best firefighters," Jackson said.

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