Michigan Wolverines Championship Chaos: 40 Fires, Fans in Trees, Only 2 Arrests

It took 37 years for the Michigan Wolverines to return to the mountaintop of college basketball, and when the final buzzer sounded on their 69-63 win over UConn, the city of Ann Arbor erupted in a scene of absolute, high-intensity celebration.

By 1:00 a.m. Tuesday, the aftermath looked like a mission-critical recovery zone: street curbs littered with spent firework boxes, single shoes, and the remnants of a historic night for the Maize and Blue.

Ann Arbor Fans Celebrate the First National Championship Basketball Win in 37 Years

The scale of the celebration was felt most by the Ann Arbor Fire Department. Officials confirmed early Tuesday that firefighters were forced to extinguish more than 40 fires set throughout the downtown area as the revelry hit its peak.

As fans flooded out of local staples like Good Time Charley’s, the streets became so densely packed that people were at times crushed against building walls. In a desperate bid for a better view, fans were seen scaling trees, light poles, and even toppling picnic tables to celebrate the first title since 1989.

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Nobody in Ann Arbor was getting sleep ???? #michigan #uconn #cbb #collegehoops #marchmadness

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How Many Arrests Were Made in Ann Arbor Following the National Championship Win?

Perhaps the most shocking part of the night wasn't the 40 fires, but the lack of police intervention. Despite the visible property damage, torn-down stop signs, and fireworks raining debris onto the crowds, Ann Arbor police reported only two arrests were made during the entire celebration.

Even more impressive was that authorities confirmed that no serious injuries were reported, despite "insane" conditions described by students who had been camping out for 23 hours just to get a seat at a bar.