Students Rescued From Apartment Fire
ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - Two dozen people have been rescued from a burning apartment building in Ann Arbor after a fire broke out early Monday.
Reportedly, residents awakened in the early morning hours to the sight of flames and the smell of smoke throughout the Willow Tree Apartments.
Officials said about 20 University of Michigan students were rescued from the complex after a fire was reported in a vacant ground-floor unit just before 3 a.m.. By the time the fire crews arrived there were flames shooting through the roof of the building, all the way up to the third floor.
Battalion Chief Kevin Cook told WWJ everyone was able to escape the burning building, including one person who jumped from a third floor balcony before firefighters could reach him.
"There were grabbing a ladder. When they turned back around with the ladder, they heard a thud and he just headed off to a car and that was the last that we saw of him," said Cook.
Cook said there were reports of any injuries. He said 24 apartment units were evacuated, six units were completely destroyed by fire and 20 units were damaged.
Staff from the apartment complex and U of M are assisting displaced residents. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
