Detroit Webb Street Apartment Fire Hospitalizes 2, Displaces Families

A fire tore through part of an apartment complex on Detroit's west side before dawn on Thursday, Oct. 22, leaving two residents hospitalized in serious condition and several households without homes. The cause has not been announced.

What happened

According to WDIV ClickOnDetroit, the blaze started at about 5 a.m. on Webb Street. Within half an hour, flames were showing through the roof of at least one building, which the station described as fully engulfed. Early reports suggested people might still be inside, and firefighters responded aggressively. The fire was later put out.

WXYZ reported that firefighters pulled a couple from a second-floor window with a ladder after the two had weighed jumping onto a mattress. A resident told the station that crews woke neighbors by pounding on windows and shouting for everyone to get out. That detail is a useful reminder that in a fast fire, the first alert some tenants receive is a person at the door or window, not a working alarm.

Who was affected

WXYZ identified the two people taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital as a 53-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman, both in serious condition with smoke inhalation. ClickOnDetroit described them as a man and woman in their 50s and said the injuries included burns as well. A firefighter also hurt an ankle; WXYZ said that firefighter was treated and released.

The reports differ on several points, and we are presenting both rather than choosing one:

• Name of the complex: ClickOnDetroit called it the Russell Woods apartments on Webb Street. WXYZ called it The Garden on Webb, near LaSalle and Webb in the Dexter-Linwood neighborhood.
• How many were displaced: ClickOnDetroit reported four families. WXYZ reported 12 residents from four damaged units. These figures may describe the same group of people counted in different ways, but neither outlet explained the difference.

WXYZ said the fire hollowed out several units. Residents interviewed by the station described heavy losses. One of them, Prince Edwards, said, “The winter's coming, and we're homeless now.” Another said everything in his apartment was burned out.

Help and investigation

The American Red Cross was on scene helping affected families find temporary housing, and WXYZ said the complex was working to relocate residents. The station also listed a helpline run by the city's Department of Human, Homeless & Family Services at 866-313-2520. Fire investigators were seen examining the wreckage on Thursday afternoon. Officials have not said what started the fire, and nothing should be assumed about its cause until they do.

What this means for renters

If you live in a building near a fire like this one, or in one that suffers its own, a few practical steps matter in the first days:

• Call for help early. The Red Cross and local assistance lines can arrange short-term lodging, but they work from the information residents give them. Register even if you think you can manage with friends or family for now.
• Ask management in writing about relocation. Whether the landlord offers another unit, how rent is handled for a damaged apartment, and what happens to your deposit and lease all depend on your lease and local law. Keep copies of every message.
• Check your renters insurance. Many policies include loss-of-use coverage for hotel or temporary rent costs. Our guide to renters insurance after a fire explains what to ask your insurer, and the first-72-hours checklist covers documents, medications and contacting your employer.
• Document what you lost. Photos, receipts and a room-by-room list help with both insurance and any assistance applications, even if you cannot get back inside yet.

The Detroit fire also underlines basics from our apartment fire safety guide: know two ways out, keep your phone and keys where you can grab them, and test the smoke alarm in your unit. If you cannot get out, close the door, seal the gaps, and signal from a window while you call 911.

We will update this story if the fire department names a cause or if the number of displaced households is clarified. Residents affected by the fire can reach the city helpline above or the Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS.