Dream Cruise Partygoers Got Lucky, Fire Chief Says

Despite the heavy damage caused by , the cars and stars were aligned in Royal Oak, according to Interim Fire Chief Chuck Thomas.

The heavy rains and the double the normal number of firefighters on duty for the Woodward Dream Cruise possibly saved lives when a quick but very powerful storm ripped through Royal Oak about 5 p.m. Saturday.

The responded to 138 calls on Dream Cruise Saturday, including 73 for downed power lines. The fire department also responded to two house fires and as many as four garage fires. Firefighters were able to save all the structures.

There were 28 firefighters were on duty Saturday – twice the usual 14.

“We were able to call in extra emergency personnel, so we had a total of 35 on duty,” he said. “Plus, every single employee in the police department was also on duty. Every fire truck, every vehicle we have in the city was in use.”

Thomas said they didn’t call surrounding communities to ask for help. “We didn’t even bother," he said. "We figured because of the storm, they were in trouble, too." 

Many of the emergency calls were related to lightning strikes and downed wires, some hitting fences. They were able to save houses and garages by turning off power and keeping fires from reaching or destroying buildings.

The heavy rains also played an important role. The chief said a member of his staff was in the Normandy area and witnessed several house parties going on just minutes before the big winds hit. “He told me when the heavy rain came, everyone moved inside,” Thomas said. Seconds later, winds whipped through and trees and power lines fell where people had once been outdoors.

“It’s a good thing the rain came before the winds,” he said. “We could have lost lives.”

did not receive any storm or Dream Cruise-related cases, spokeswoman Karen LeDuc said.