One man had to jump from a 3rd floor window to escape fire
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Fire broke out at a Kalamazoo apartment building early Friday.
About 30 people are now out of their homes. Red Cross workers are helping them find a place to stay.
The fire started just after midnight in the 1300 block of Portage Street. When Kalamazoo Public Safety firefighters got there the fire on the second floor of the building was shooting up to the third floor.
All but one person was home at the time of the fire.
One person actually jumped out of a third story window. He sprained his ankle in the fall. Officers rescued everyone else from the burning building.
"There were 29 of the people home tonight, when officers arrived they had to rescue eight of the people out of windows using ladders. They had to take the other 21, go in and escort them out through the stairwells," said Captain Brian Uridge of KDPS.
Officers say a few people suffered minor smoke inhalation, but other than that no one was hurt besides the man with the sprained ankle.
They say this isn't the first time they've responded to a fire at this complex. They are treating this as a suspicious fire.
Fire officials say the damage is extensive. There is no word yet on just when people will be allowed back inside.
