At least a couple of residents had to be rescued from their apartments by police.
One person died and a couple of tenants were rescued after being trapped in a fire at a Westland apartment complex Sunday afternoon, officials said.
Westland Fire Chief Michael Stradtner said police officers, who were first on the scene, rescued the tenants, while others were helped from their apartments by fellow residents.
Stradtner said firefighters were called about 12: 30 p.m. and when they arrived at the Willow Creek apartments on Newburgh Road, south of Marquette, there was still one resident missing. Shortly before 1 p.m., firefighters found a woman deceased in the apartment unit they believe is the origin of the fire, Stradtner said.
Her family has been informed of the death, and the department is not yet releasing details on the victim, Stradtner said.
The victim’s husband was on scene but did not speak with news media.
The fire began in the upper unit of a two-story building on Willow Lane at the apartment complex.
Stradtner said that the fire, which had heavy smoke, reached the attic and from there spread throughout the 24-unit building. At least 12 units were damaged, Stradtner said.
The chief said the cause of the fire remains uncertain, and an investigation will begin once the fire marshal division is able to enter the building.
« We had to pull our units out because of the fire, » Stradtner said. « We had roof collapsing throughout the building. »
James Mason, 58, who lives on the first floor of the building, said that he heard the alarm go off in the hallway and a minute later smoke began to fill his apartment. He said he opened his door but couldn’t see anything, because of how thick the smoke was.
Mason, a double amputee, said that his next-door neighbor helped him out of his apartment.
« I was afraid, » Mason said. « I said, ‘I’m never gonna make it out of here alive.’ It was that bad. »
Stradtner said that he doesn’t know how many people were displaced because of the fire, but that he was waiting for the property management company to arrive to try to find them temporary lodging.
Contact Hasan Dudar: hdudar@freepress.com
