No report of deaths or injuries as more than 50 escape apartment building fire in Monroe

An ongoing fire caused 49 families to evacuate the Hidden Trail Apartments in Monroe, Mich. Firefighters from several local departments wworked to douse the smoldering building at 1513 Stewart Road.

THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
Buy This Image

An ongoing fire caused 49 families to evacuate the Hidden Trail Apartments in Monroe, Mich. Firefighters from several local departments wworked to douse the smoldering building at 1513 Stewart Road.

MONROE -- An ongoing fire caused 49 families to evacuate the Hidden Trail Apartments in Monroe, Mich., today.

As of 3:30 p.m., firefighters from several local departments were still dousing the smoldering building at 1513 Stewart Road, according to Nicole Pribbernow, a spokesman for the American Red Cross‘s southeastern Michigan region.

There are no reported deaths or severe injures at this time, though two residents went to the hospital after inhaling excessive amounts of smoke, Ms. Pribbernow said.  

An ongoing fire caused 49 families to evacuate the Hidden Trail Apartments in Monroe, Mich. Firefighters from several local departments wworked to douse the smoldering building at 1513 Stewart Road.

Over 20 Red Cross volunteers have provided food, clothing, and mental health services to displaced residents at CrossePointe Church.

Most of the families have renter‘s insurance that will provide them with a temporary stay in a hotel, Ms. Pribbernow said, but the Red Cross is directing the remainder to a shelter in a local church. Additional Red Cross volunteers are arriving from Detroit, Washtenaw County, and Lenawee County to assist them. 

The fire started at 9 a.m. in a third-floor residence, but the cause is currently unknown, according to the Frenchtown Township Fire Department. Four people were rescued out of a window, according to the department.

All of the apartments appear to have been damaged by the fire and the firemen’s prolonged water use, and most of the building‘s roof has collapsed, Ms. Pribbernow said. The fire was under control by about 10:30 a.m., but crews remained on scene through the afternoon to monitor possible hot spots.

Contact Maya Averbuch at: maverbuch@theblade.com or 419-724-6522.