ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - An investigation is underway after a deadly fire at an Ann Arbor apartment.
The Ann Arbor Fire Department was called to the Baker Commons apartment complex on Packard Street early Monday morning to reports of a fire in a second floor unit.
The AAFD said they rescued a woman from the apartment, but she was pronounced dead on the scene. Firefighters also performed a ladder rescue of another second floor occupant and assisted with the evacuation of residents.
The fire was upgraded to a “second alarm” fire due to the number of residents that were involved, authorities said.
The deceased woman was the only occupant of the unit that was on fire.
The fire was quickly extinguished, according to a written statement by the AAFD.
“There was some sort of explosion in the unit prior to the fire,” the AAFD said in its written statement. “The individual units do not have natural gas, and the building’s natural gas feed was not involved with the explosion or fire.”
The building’s sprinklers and fire alarm system were activated. The AAFD said “fire and blast damage was limited to the one unit,” but eight other units were damaged by water and smoke.
The City of Ann Arbor Housing Commission is providing assistance with shelter to displaced residents.
The University of Michigan Logistics, Transportation and Parking provided tow buses for residents to stay warm. The Standard of Ann Arbor, another apartment complex, opened their lobby to residents as well.
The fire is being investigated by an Ann Arbor Fire Investigator and the Ann Arbor Police Detective Bureau.