SOUTHGATE (WWJ) - A number of residents are without a home following a large and destructive fire at a senior living apartment building in Southgate on Tuesday afternoon.
At least three residents along with one police officer and one firefighters were taken to the hospital for medical care when flames broke out around 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at the Meadows of Southgate Senior Living Community on Allen Road north of Pennsylvania Road, Southgate police said.
Over 12 hours later, WWJ's Mike Campbell said you can still smell smoke in the air as he reported live from the scene in a 5 a.m. update on Wednesday.
"I'm looking at a fire truck that has its visibility lights on and there's firemen walking around looking at the building," Campbell explained. "It's a three-story, L-shaped building and the whole third floor, all the way along both legs of that L, have been just torched."
Authorities said they were working on accounting for all the residents with roughly 60 relocated to a senior activity center located at 14700 Reaume Parkway in Southgate, not far from Eureka Road off of I-75. Campbell said many of the residents' cell phones were left in the building or lost to the fire.
"If you need to reach a loved one, you may have to go to that senior facility activity center to actually make contact with them," Campbell advised.
While no cause of the fire has been determined, some residents believe it may have been started by a lit cigarette that was left on a deck.
"Apparently, it started on the second floor and then the flames engulfed the third floor," Campbell said. "That's how this thing spread so quick. It's unfortunate situation."
Police and fire crews descended on the scene when the fire was reported and began pulling residents, some of whom were sleeping, out to safety. Authorities said there were no fatalities or significant injuries. The three residents taken to the hospital are expected to recover.
The police officer and firefighter are also expected to be OK. Officials stated earlier that other first responders were treated for suspected smoke inhalation.
"The first arriving units located heavy smoke and an active fire," the Southgate Police Department said. "The Southgate Police and Fire departments with the assistance of several surrounding police and fire agencies assisted several residents to safety while working to contain the fire. As a result of the fire the apartment complex sustained significant structural and water damage.
Campbell said firefighters were still at the scene early Wednesday morning with crews boarding up the building. Police said that firefighters are still assessing hot spots and have searched the areas of the apartment complex that are safe.
"The fire department will continue to search any remaining areas once they are safe to do so," the department added.
The American Red Cross has stepped in to help while the Hampton Manor of Woodward and Trenton, two nearby assisted living facilities, have offered affected residents rooms free of charge.
The official cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time.
