Fire reported at Ypsilanti Township apartment complex
Two third-floor apartments were damaged during a fire caused by a malfunctioning box fan Thursday afternoon.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Editor's note: This story was updated at 2:30 p.m. with additional information on the fire from Lt. Vic Chevrette.
Firefighters knocked down a blaze at the Aspen Chase apartment complex on International Drive in Ypsilanti Township Thursday.
Joyce Williams, spokeswoman for Huron Valley Ambulance, said crews were sent to the complex at 12:50 p.m. Thursday for a report of smoke and flames coming from the third floor.
Ypsilanti Township Fire Department Lt. Vic Chevrette said the initial investigation showed the fire began due to a malfunctioning box fan. The fire then spread to the couch in the third-floor apartment.
“There were two occupants who were asleep and were woke up by smoke alarms,” Chevrette said, adding that they escaped unharmed.
The fire spread through the attic space into an apartment unit across the hallway. Most of the damage to that apartment was smoke and water, Chevrette said. The occupant of that apartment was the person who called 911 and reported the fire.
No damage estimate was immediately available Thursday afternoon.
The fire was out before 2 p.m. and was contained to the third floor. No one was injured, Chevrette said.
A fire displaced residents at the Aspen Chase complex on Sunday, but Chevrette said that was in a different building in the complex.
It’s unknown at this point if any of the residents have been displaced by the fire, but the apartment where the blaze began looked gutted. Firefighters tore out the front wall of the apartment that faces the apartment complex while fighting the blaze.
The white facade of the building was charred black on the third floor and evidence of the fire’s movement across the building was clear.
Ypsilanti Township, Ypsilanti, Superior Township, Pittsfield Township and Ann Arbor firefighters all responded to the scene. The American Red Cross was also on scene.
Red Cross officials said workers were on scene providing food and snacks to first responders and residents, and standing by to see if any of the residents needed help finding housing.
Video courtesy of Nicole Beverly
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Jim Pryce
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 11:20 p.m.
I was traveling down Golfside to Washtenaw Ave. & could smell the smoke over near Washtenaw Country Club, then saw the smoke once I turned onto Washtenaw.
sesomai
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 7:58 p.m.
Pretty impressive that two sleeping people could escape a fire...
umylulz
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 6:48 p.m.
I live in the complex, across from the building today. Different from the one on Sunday. The Sunday fire was towards the back of the complex, this was more in the middle.
umylulz
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 9:18 p.m.
Lisa, it is a tad unnerving. I find a little comfort in the fact that neither of these have been "suspicious," no signs of arson, but it still makes my hair stand on end hearing sirens anywhere near the complex now. Thanks for the safe wishes.
Lisa
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 6:53 p.m.
Must be scary for all you living there. Stay safe!
Fordie
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 5:44 p.m.
This is the second fire there in less than a week. Is this the same building?
Fordie
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 8:17 p.m.
Thank you.
Kyle Feldscher
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 6:27 p.m.
Fordie - Per fire officials, it is a different building.
Julie Baker
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 5:55 p.m.
We're not sure if it's the same building. The fire Sunday also involved a third-floor apartment. Here's the story on that incident: http://www.annarbor.com/news/residents-displaced-after-ypsilanti-township-apartment-complex-fire/ Kyle and Melanie are on the scene now and we'll be updating the story as we find out more.