Fire at Water’s Edge apartments brings help from community

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
A fire at Water’s Edge apartments on the I-94 South Service Drive in Van Buren Township the afternoon of Dec. 10 brought lots of fire fighters to put out the blaze that displaced about 50 residents.
The fire also brought out help from the Red Cross, Salvation Army and the community, who reached out to help those put out of their homes.
The fire started around 5 p.m. and VBT police and fire were dispatched to a report of a structure fire.
VBT police arrived first and confirmed the south side of the structure was on fire and immediately began evacuating residents from the building. Officer Ryan Bidwell injured his foot kicking in a door to help with the evacuation. He was off work for just a day.
The fire department arrived and saw white smoke at first that suddenly turned to black. Fire fighters assumed evacuation efforts and started fighting the fire. The department requested mutual aid and fire fighters arrived from the City of Belleville, the City of Romulus, Ypsilanti Township and Sumpter Township.
The driveway around the building is narrow, so motorists reported seeing a large number of fire trucks parked along the South I-94 Service Drive at the apartment buildings.
VBT Public Safety Director Greg Laurain said there was a lot of teamwork and that was important since the scene was chaotic with more than 40 apartments being evacuated – more than 50 people.
Since it was shift-change time, VBT dispatchers coming off work volunteered to drive the VBT Senior Van back and forth from the apartments to a warm, safe location at the township hall, where Hungry Howie’s pizzas, Tim Horton’s coffee and hot chocolate, and water and fruit from the Recreation Department was available.
VBT Animal Control Officer Robert Queener was called to the scene to assist with the safe removal of several pets and to provide safe lodging for them.
At the township hall, one resident had her cat in a carrier. It was looking grumpy and she said the cat had whiskers that were singed.
Another woman cradled her dog Otis in her arms and a Red Cross representative gave her a blanket to wrap around the shaking dog.
A resident said when she saw the fire burning her apartment she didn’t know what to do, so she stayed in the parking lot in her vehicle. Another resident joined her and they waited for a while and then she found a place to stay with her son. On Thursday, she went to the township hall and talked to the Red Cross.
“There was huge confusion,” Director Laurain said.
VBT Chaplains Greg Zurakowski, pastor of the Belleville Presbyterian Church, and Deacon Pete Cornell from St. Anthony Catholic Church were called in to help counsel the evacuated people.
The apartments’ maintenance crew spread salt out over the freezing water from the fire suppression efforts after it was requested by the department.
Fire Chief Dan Besson said while the lakeside building was being evacuated, the doors to apartments and the building was left open and that acted “like a chimney” encouraging the flames.
He said cross-trained Police Officer Dave Champagne was patrolling with his fire gear in his patrol car’s trunk and pulled it out and put it on to help fight the fire.
The fire started on the first floor and so people were trapped on the balconies and fire fighters rescued two off the east side. The apartment complex’s maintenance crew put up a ladder on the west side and three came down the ladder from that balcony.
Fire Chief Besson said the front building was unaffected, except for smoke, and fire fighters removed smoke from the front after the fire was extinguished.
Police Sgt./Fire Fighter Mike Moening began feeling ill while helping with fire efforts and was taken to the hospital where it was determined he had heart blockage. Emergency surgery immediately implanted a stent. He was doing well after surgery, Laurain said.
Police Lt. Ken Floro said the VBT Department of Public Safety is conducting an investigation into the origin of the fire and the Michigan State Police fire investigators were at the scene.
Some displaced residents were put up in local motels with housing vouchers and food and clothing from the Salvation Army and Red Cross.
On Friday, Amanda Gupta of the Red Cross said the Red Cross assisted 22 families and on Thursday it was still interviewing residents to see what help was needed. Some residents had temporarily spent the night with family and friends.
Gupta said those from other apartments on the second floor of the burned building who hadn’t talked to the Red Cross should call 1-800-774-6066.
Unit #204 in Belleville Pointe Apartments at 46020 Lake Villa Drive, has been set aside to house non-monetary donations. Gupta said people are invited to bring non-perishable food, clothing, holiday gifts, appliances, and furniture, “anything to help them get back on their feet.”
Those with non-monetary donations may call Kristein at (734) 697-4100.
On Thursday, many donations had been brought to the township hall for distribution to the fire victims, but they were packed up and taken over to the Belleville Pointe apartment for distribution.
Displaced residents are invited to come into the unit to pick up items they need.
Donors can send monetary donations to: 47001 Water’s Edge Lane, Belleville 48111. For more information, call Teresa Isley at (734) 276-6987.
Both the Belleville Pointe apartment unit and Isley will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The first general pickup at the apartment was held last Saturday.
The township reports there were five children who lived in the apartments that burned: two boys, ages 4 and 8; two girls, 4 and 5; and a girl aged 15.