Ida Cummins remembers her embarrassment when she turned on the national news in 1990 and heard how residents in her city were burning down abandoned buildings on Devil's Night.
"I knew right then that anything I could do to help, I would," said Cummins, a 67-year-old Detroit native.Since then, Cummins and her son have joined thousands of volunteers and city leaders to protect the city on Devil's Night, the Halloween eve arson blitz when fires burn in abandoned buildings, vehicles and vacant lots.
Cummins planned to spend Wednesday night guarding the vacant apartment building behind her house.
"They won't get it as long as I'm breathing," Cummins said as she demonstrated how she would sit at her kitchen window to watch the building.
The number of fires peaked in 1985 at 297. But for the most part, the number has decreased since, perhaps as a result of the volunteer work of residents like Cummins.
Last year, 61 fires were reported on Devil's Night. The city averages 40 to 60 fires daily.
Cummins is not alone in her anger and shame over the fires. The city is expecting 30,000 volunteers to help patrol neighborhoods and guard abandoned buildings and vehicles Wednesday night and Thursday, mayoral spokesman Anthony Neely said Monday.
Even members of street gangs pledged to stop Devil's Night arsonists.
Representatives of six Detroit gangs agreed Tuesday to a three-day truce, pledging not to commit crime, including arson or vandalism. They sealed the deal with handshakes and hugs at a church with police officials and religious leaders looking on.
City officials also were prepared.
Hundreds of abandoned buildings have been razed so they cannot be set on fire. Others bear signs warning that the buildings are under watch and offering rewards for information in arson cases. Over the weekend, police towed away abandoned vehicles.