WESTLAND, Mich. – Several families are now displaced after a fire tore through a Westland condominium complex early Friday morning.
The fire happened just after 5 a.m at Woodview Condominums, located near Warren Road and Central City Parkway.
Westland Fire Chief Darrell Stamper said when crews arrived on scene, several units were already engulfed in flames. Everyone inside made it out safely.
“Luckily, one of our fire stations is right across the street,” Stamper said. “We were able to arrive here quickly, but we did already have three or four units already burning throughout and burning through the roof.”
Stamper said eight units are now uninhabitable. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
In a social media post, the American Red Cross Michigan Region said it was assisting at least ten families who were displaced in the fire. The organization was at the complex throughout the day, helping to connect displaced residents with resources.
Anyone who was impacted can call 1-800-RED CROSS for information and assistance.
“It was crazy,” said Christopher Emmett, who has lived at the complex for more than 20 years. “Literally the flames were coming out of the roof and there were firetrucks everywhere.”
Firefighters narrowly saved Emmet’s unit. He lives directly below one of the units that was destroyed. He said his condo now has heavy smoke damage and his door was knocked down by the fire department as crews worked to get families out. He’s now grateful his home is still intact.
“I can’t wrap my head around that,” Emmett said. “Luckily, I get to stay, but I just talked to the people that live in one of the units that’s basically totally gone and they said it’s a total loss. I’m looking at them and basically, they have the clothes on their back.”