Residents Rescued From Burning Apartment Building
YPSILANTI (WWJ) - Authorities say two people were rescued from second-floor windows after their apartment building went up in flames.
The fire broke out early Thursday morning on Pearl Street, near Michigan Avenue and North Huron Street in Ypsilanti.
Flames tore through the building's 16 units, which are rented out to people who were formerly homeless. The American Red Cross is assisting residents that have been displaced by the fire.
Firefighters rescued two people; one was taken to the hospital.
Jesse Smalley, who has lived in the building for about six months, said he was sleeping when the fire started.
"I just heard pounding at the door and I heard 'Fire!' and I looked out the door and it was full of smoke," Smalley told WWJ's Charlie Langton. "I just got up and ran out the building."
Smalley said his home was completely destroyed, but he's thankful he still has his life.
"I'm homeless now, I don't have nowhere to go. Hopefully the Red Cross can help me out," he said. "But I'm alright. I'll take it as a loss and just get back to it."
Authorities say the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.