DETROIT, Mich. — Two children and one other person were taken to a hospital after a fire broke out Thursday morning at a 12-story apartment building in Detroit's New Center neighborhood, according to the Detroit Fire Department.
Firefighters responded to the Pallister Plaisance Apartments shortly after 8 a.m. and found a fire on the ninth floor, Battalion Chief Jeffrey Urbas said.
Heavy smoke quickly spread through the building, reaching at least the 11th floor. Firefighters received multiple 911 calls from residents reporting people trapped inside their apartments.
Crews rescued one man who was hanging out of a ninth-floor window. Firefighters used a ladder truck to reach him and bring him safely to the ground, Urbas added.
Two children, accompanied by their mother, were taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation, along with another man. Several other residents were treated at the scene.
Residents described a frightening scene as smoke filled hallways and flames could be seen coming from the building's windows.
"I seen a lot of smoke, so I grabbed my dog and came on outside," resident Byron Cooper said.
Duran Henderson, who lives on the 10th floor directly above where the fire broke out, said visibility was severely limited as smoke filled the building.
He said he went toward the ninth floor while gathering his belongings and could barely see through the windows because of the thick smoke.
Henderson, who moved into the building just 10 days ago, said he had been watching a program about fire safety when the building's alarm went off.
"It was just ironic, and two minutes later the alarm started going off," he said.
Urbas said the fire originated and remained contained to one apartment, although other units sustained water and smoke damage. The apartment appeared to be occupied, but no one was home when the fire started, he said.
The building's fire alarms were working, but Urbas said the apartments did not have sprinkler systems.
While the cause of the fire is still undetermined, officials reminded residents to take precautions to prevent fires, including avoiding the use of extension cords and keeping combustible materials away from beds and curtains.
Residents on unaffected floors were allowed to return to their apartments, while those whose units were damaged received assistance from the American Red Cross and Salvation Army.
