An apartment fire over the weekend left eleven families without a home. It happened at the River Forest apartments in Flint Township.
Lori McGrew and her boyfriend have come back to this apartment to see what they can salvage. A fire early Sunday morning left them and ten other families homeless. She says, " I opened the door up and it was filled with smoke so we pounded on all the doors and my boyfriend went in the basement to see what was on fire."
Turns out a kitchen fire in a lower unit was the source. The flames broke out around 1 a.m. catching residents off guard, many having to jump to safety. McGrew continues, " A couple people jumped off the balcony, they were hurt. My boyfriend was one of them he jumped off our balcony."
When fire fighters arrived they rescued some residents using their ladders. The whole ordeal was too frightening for Cid Doral. His elderly mother lives here. He says, " I'm just glad my mom is safe and no one in the building got hurt."
So far fire investigators say two apartments are completely destroyed from fire damage, nine others have extensive smoke damage making it impossible for residents to return.
It may not be the way Lori McGrew and her neighbors saw the holiday week unfolding but they too are grateful.
