Ypsilanti Township Apartment Fire Displaces 12 Families

A fast-moving fire tore through an apartment building in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, on the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 3, leaving about a dozen households without a place to live just weeks before Thanksgiving. Everyone inside got out, but the damage was serious enough that crews escalated the response to a third alarm.

What happened

Firefighters were called to the Fairway Trails apartment complex, off South Hewitt Road, at about 6:30 a.m., according to local reports. Township Fire Chief Steve Densmore said the first crew to arrive found heavy fire on the first floor, with flames also visible on the second and third floors. Because callers suggested people might be trapped, crews initially went into rescue mode. The fire then spread into the attic, which prompted the third-alarm call and brought in help from neighboring departments.

WEMU reported that firefighters rescued all 15 residents. One older resident was checked by paramedics for smoke inhalation, and no other injuries were reported in the coverage we reviewed. Accounts count the displaced in two ways: WDIV (Local 4) reported that a dozen families were displaced and captioned its photo with 15 residents, while WEMU reported 15 residents rescued and a dozen families displaced. These figures appear to describe the same group of people, but the township has not published a unit-by-unit tally.

Help for residents

The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced households, and township officials said they were working to line up temporary housing. WEMU quoted Densmore saying the families were being taken care of by the Red Cross, and he told that outlet the residents did not have much with them right now. He also pointed to the timing, noting that many of those affected have few options as Thanksgiving approaches.

One resident told WDIV that her own apartment was not damaged but that she could not go back inside until fire officials cleared the building. That detail is a reminder that displacement after a fire is not limited to the units that burned. Smoke, water, utility shutoffs and structural checks can keep neighbors out for days or longer.

Cause and damage

Officials have not said what started the fire. The cause remains under investigation, and we are not speculating about it. Descriptions of the damage also differ between outlets. WEMU described the affected apartments as totally destroyed, while WDIV did not say how many units were damaged. Until the township or its fire department releases an official count, treat any specific number of destroyed units as unconfirmed.

What this means for renters

Fires like this one are a useful prompt to check a few things before an emergency, not after:

• Renters insurance. A landlord's policy covers the building, not your belongings or your living costs. A renters policy typically includes loss-of-use coverage that can pay for a hotel or short-term rental while your unit is unlivable. Our guide to renters insurance after a fire explains what to expect.
• Documents and essentials. Keep photos of your ID, lease, insurance policy number and medication list in your phone or cloud storage so you can reach them without access to your apartment.
• Your exit plan. Know two ways out, including stairwells, and do not use elevators during a fire. If smoke fills the hallway, closing the door and calling 911 with your unit number can help firefighters find you.
• Who to contact after a fire. Reach the Red Cross, your landlord or property manager, and your insurer as early as possible. Ask in writing when you can retrieve belongings and how your rent and deposit will be handled while the unit is unlivable.

For a step-by-step list, see our first-72-hours checklist for tenants. Michigan tenants who are displaced should also ask their landlord in writing about the status of the lease, since the answer can depend on the lease terms and on the extent of the damage.

We will update this report if officials release a cause, a final damage count or details on how to help the families.