SOUTHGATE, Mich. – A Southgate firefighter was injured Monday morning when the ceiling of a motel collapsed.
Multiple fire departments were called to the Motel 6 near I-75 and Northline Road, just before 6 a.m., Dec. 29.
Guests grabbed whatever they could before being evacuated.
Crews tackled the blaze from the roof and the first floor, but one Southgate firefighter was injured.
“He was on the second story,” said Fire Chief Justin Graves. “The ceiling collapsed and the whole wall fell.”
That firefighter was rushed to the hospital and expected to be OK.
Crews from Southgate, Allen Park, Lincoln Park and Wyndotte assisted the Southfield Fire Department in battling the blaze.
Graves said the strong winds that knocked out power for thousands overnight actually worked in their favor, blowing the fire toward maintenance rooms and not where people were staying.
Part of the building is almost completely undamaged. Graves said they didn’t have to call the Red Cross because the Motel 6 owner is moving families to other rooms.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.