A fire at Riverview Crossings, 15027 Brookview Drive, burns late April 4 as firefighters work to extinguish flames.
By ZEINAB NAJM
Sunday Times Newspapers
RIVERVIEW — Firefighters worked overnight to put out a fire at Riverview Crossings, 15027 Brookview Drive, which displaced residents living at the apartment complex.
The call came in about 10:45 p.m. April 4 about a structure fire and when firefighters arrived they found the entire west side fully engulfed in flames.
Mutual aid was immediately summoned and came from Wyandotte, Southgate, Grosse Ile Township, and Brownstown Township along with logistical services from Downriver Community Conference as well as Rockwood Fire Department.
During an April 5 City Council study session, Fire Chief Ron Lammers said the fire was not cleared until 8:30 a.m. that same day.
“There were a number of hot spots as a result of the roof collapsing into the third floor so we had total collapse on the most western side of the building,” he said. “Many of the units of the eastern portion of the building were unscathed from the event. We had a total of about 35 firefighters on the scene at the high point of the events.”
Lammers said the fire started on the first floor and the entire west side of the apartment complex was full of flames on all three stories.
The apartment complex was about 80 percent occupied at the time of the fire, Lammers said.
Temporary housing in Southgate is being provided to residents with the assistance of the American Red Cross. The Salvation Army is helping residents affected by the fire as well.
Lammers said there was no injuries, and a couple of firefighters who were dehydrated were treated on scene.
“We were very fortunate there was nobody injured or anything more serious than that,” he said. “We’re very thankful for our mutual aid partners. This was a magnitude fire that without their assistance would not have been possible so we’re very grateful for that.”
He said the responding firefighters were able to knock on doors and get everyone out of the apartments making it easier to extinguish the fire from the start.
Investigators returned to the scene April 6, but the cause of the fire was still undetermined at publication.
At the study session, Mayor Andy Swift thanked the Fire and Police departments for their work handling the fire.
“On the behalf of myself and the entire council I want to express our appreciation and thankfulness for our police and fire departments at the fire last night at the Riverview Crossings,” he said. “It’s just a miracle that nobody was hurt and we’re just really glad and proud of the work you guys did. We just ask that our residents keep both departments in their thoughts and prayers. It’s been a trying week for our police and fire departments.”
Lammers responded by saying he appreciated Swift’s comments and that he wanted to thank the council for allowing the Fire Department to upgrade its equipment.
“I can tell you that the new arial pumper we had on scene last night was a huge help,” Lammers said. “At one point we had six hand lines off that truck plus the arial,” he said.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at Riverview Crossings, 15027 Brookview Drive, late on April 4.