Woman found dead after fire tears through New Baltimore apartment complex; Investigators still working to determine cause

NEW BALTIMORE (WWJ) - A woman has been found dead after a fire tore through her Macomb County apartment complex early Thursday morning.

Up to four surrounding fire departments responded to the blaze that broke out at in New Baltimore as residents rushed to get out of the building around 3 a.m.

In an update Thursday afternoon, fire officials told WWJ a 65-year-old woman was found dead after the fire was put out. Authorities are still investigating whether or not she was killed in the fire, or if she had died before it started.

Officials say the woman lived alone and no other injuries were reported. Her name has not been released.

WWJ's Mike Campbell reported live from the scene earlier Thursday as fire crews battled and eventually subdued the flames at the Water’s Edge Estates Apartments in New Baltimore on Jefferson between Altman and 23 Mile Roads.

A resident, identified as Samantha, spoke to Campbell and said she was alerted by an alarm -- and then she saw smoke.

"I've seen [another resident] in the window and I asked him if he was okay and the smoke was coming upstairs up there, so you know, I was banging on the woman whose [unit was] where the fire was, banging on her door and trying to get her out and we hurried up and called 911, trying to do what we could," Samantha said.

Campbell reported four Macomb County fire departments responded to the apartment building from New Haven, Chesterfield, Lenox and Selfridge.

New Baltimore Fire Chief Jeff Stellman told Campbell the fire affected two complexes with smoke to the entire building. Stellman had said they weren't initially sure if the lone occupant in the apartment where the fire started, described as an elderly woman by neighbors, was able to make it out, or if she was even home at all.

"We're still doing an investigation," the chief said when Campbell asked for an update. "I can't speak to that right now."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ LIVE for the latest updates.

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