Roof fire (?) in a student rooming house, Ann Arbor, c. 1923. Location unidentified.

One of the gents on the roof appears to be wearing a suit -- he seems overdressed for a fireman. Maybe they are part of a roofing crew, removing old shingles before installing new. But what are they doing with that hose?

 

Maybe cleaning leaves out of the eavestroughs?

 

Or was this just part of the national celebration of "Wet Your Shingles Day"?

 

Can anyone tell me where these houses stood -- or stand?

Done