SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) — Some residents of a apartment complex in Southfield that caught fire Monday returned to their units on Tuesday to try to salvage what they could.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. A 73-year-old woman died in the fire. Her name has not been released.
The massive fire affected a total of 32 units, 16 of which were largely destroyed. Dozens of people were displaced and many wonder what will happen next.
It is a sight that the people who live in Le Chateau Condominiums will never forget. When the fire broke out around 2:15 p.m. on Monday, Karen Shelby said there was complete chaos.
“I saw flames coming out of the back window of the middle apartment on the top floor,” Shelby said.
Although the Shelby building was spared at the time, the fast-moving fire caused much concern.
“Just scared and the fear of what could happen,” Shelby said.
Now that the smoke and flames are gone, this is what’s left. There are charred remains, rubble on the ground, visible trusses from the ceiling and most of the roof is gone.
Investigators returned to sift through the rubble and determine the cause of the fire.
“I’ve never been so close to a fire to see how quickly it spread and the damage it caused, and you can see right through those units. That’s sad,” Shelby said.
Desabata Robinson lives on the first floor of the building, where most of the units have been destroyed.
“I said this is not a small fire and it spread like a meteor from right to left,” Robinson said.
Fortunately, he is staying with his son who lives nearby. He says he won’t let what happened defeat him.
‘Most things were materialistic. You can get it back,” he said.
Residents also had a message for the relatives of the slain women.
“The young lady who lost her grandmother also sent prayers to their family,” Shelby said.
