As flames began to engulf the American House senior living community in Southgate, first responders ran into the building and began assisting residents out, police body camera footage shows.
The large structure fire on the evening of Friday, Oct. 24, left 81 residents displaced from the independent and assisted living facility at 16333 Allen Road.
All residents and employees, along with three dogs, made it out of the building safely. One firefighter and one civilian were injured during the fire, according to police. One cat was reported dead.
According to a Oct. 25 update from American House, its residents and team members “evacuated the building without incident” and the building’s “fire systems deployed as designed.”
As of Saturday afternoon, all residents had found a temporary place to stay, according to police. Spokesperson Lori Bender said American House has been working with residents to find comfortable homes.
“The American House team has worked tirelessly in placing the residents into new homes,” Bender told the Free Press on Wednesday, Oct. 29. “Many have found new homes in our American House sister communities, and many are staying with family while they reside on waiting lists for our sister communities.”
Downriver community members and local groups and businesses have also been chipping in to assist seniors affected by the fire. The Southgate Senior Center is no longer accepting donations as of Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 18, after overwhelming community support, according to its Facebook page.
On Thursday, Oct. 30, The Senior Alliance, a group based out of western Wayne County and Downriver, is hosting a resource event for American House residents at the Southgate Senior Center, 14700 Reaume Parkway, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
According to an event flier, resources will include case management, emergency medication, housing options, mental health support, medical equipment replacement and more.
The Southgate American House building recaught fire again on Sunday, Oct. 26. The building is “pretty much going to be condemned,” Southgate Fire Lt. Mark Hunt told the Free Press on Sunday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to the fire department.
Free Press reporter Susan Selasky contributed to this report.
Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Bodycam footage shows first responders entering Southgate senior living fire
Reporting by Natalie Davies, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
