SOUTHGATE (WWJ) Southgate fire crews are being hailed as heroes for rescuing all residents from a senior center that went up in flames.
The Southgate Fire Department said they received a report of flames "shooting" from the American House on Allen Road, near Dix-Toledo, on Friday, October 24, at approximately 10 p.m.
"First responders on scene started running in selflessly, evacuating as many people, as fast as they could," Fire Chief Justin Graves said. "...(They need) assistance getting out of the building...then where do they go, because this is their home?"
Crews took the residents to Southgate Senior Center in the area of Dix-Toledo and Eureka roads.
Police told WWJ all of the residents had found a place to stay by 2 p.m. on Saturday--just hours after the fire started--with many other American House facilities in Metro Detroit stepping up to shelter them. According to officials, the seniors will not be able to return home for a while because the facility suffered heavy smoke damage.
No injuries were reported.
A cat perished in the fire, police said, while officers were able to rescue three dogs.
Police said, on Sunday, October 26; the building started smoking again around 8 a.m. Before long, fire had fully engulfed one of the corridors that had been untouched by the initial blaze. Multiple agencies responded. By mid afternoon, crews had the fire mostly contained and were working on extinguishing hotspots.
The city of Southgate is collecting monetary donations to help the victims.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Graves labeled the first responders' response to the initial fire a "miracle": "All the police, all the fire crews that put their life on the line to get people out, hats off to them."