March 31--A Livonia man and two of his three children are battling severe burns after a fire claimed their apartment building early Sunday morning.
Livonia Police and Fire responded to the blaze, which was reported around 5:30 a.m. in the 28000 block of Lancaster Drive in the Franklin Square Apartments just off 5 Mile Road. In front of the apartment building was a 42-year-old woman, her 41-year-old husband, two of their three children, ages 2 and 7. The woman told police that their 10-year old child was still inside.
When officers arrived, said Livonia Police Officer Brian Sznyr, they tried to get into the second floor apartment with fire extinguishers to reach the 10-year-old, but were pushed back by the flames. Firefighters, who arrived soon after, were able to rescue the 10-year-old, who was taken with the 7-year-old and the 41-year-old man to Botsford Hospital to be stabilized. The 42-year-old woman and the 2-year-old child were treated for minor injuries and released.
All three were flown by helicopter to the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center, where man is in critical condition and the two children are in serious condition.
While police and fire continue to investigate the cause of the blaze, downstairs neighbor Torlice Moss, 30, said she is grateful to be alive.
Moss said her smoke detector went off between 4:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday morning, and another neighbor was running around the four-plex, knocking on doors, trying to rouse people out of bed. She said people made it outside as the fire consumed the top floor apartment and parts of three others. Fire, water and smoke damage forced all residents of the four-plex to evacuate.
First responders said besides the 10-year-old, the building was empty when they investigated. Moss said she saw the family from the upstairs apartment where the fire started outside, and heard only later how serious their injuries were.
"I haven't seen them since," said Moss, who was accompanied by a man. "We're just trying to find out where we are going to lay our heads tonight."
Copyright 2013 - Detroit Free Press
