ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich. – Dozens of people are displaced after an early morning fire ripped through an apartment building in East China Township.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. In the meantime, the people displaced are going to have to start over.
“Me and my girlfriend were just laying in bed and one of our neighbors started pounding on the door. There was no smoke alarms, nothing going off. I couldn’t even tell you what time it was; I just know it was late,” said Chris Lanter.
Lanter is one of many people lucky to be alive after a fire broke out at Bree Manor Apartment complex just a little after midnight Sunday.
“We all got out alright. I just know right up there in B building is where is started,” Lanter added.
Thankfully, no one was hurt, but as a result of the fire, Local 4 learned that 20 to 30 people had been displaced, including Lanter himself.
“I’m on the end. It looks like it’s okay from here. But it’s not. I was just watching my house burn,” Lanter explained.
Multiple agencies, including several fire departments from nearby cities, responded to assist in putting out the flames. Sadly, they didn’t get there in time. Resulting in disabled resident, Robert Bark losing everything—even his two pets.
“Well, both my cats are dead. My chair chargers gone. My phone chargers gone. Everything’s gone,” Bark explained.
As the rebuilding process takes place, residents are being taken to a nearby hotel, but the recovery will not be easy.
“I just spent everything I had trying to get that apartment ready to go and was comfortable. But, all you can do is start over,” Lanter concluded.
The American Red Cross is working hard to find housing for the 20 to 30 displaced. In the meantime, if anyone would like to help Bark, click here.