Fire Engulfs Wixom Apartment Building

Smoke could be seen for miles around in Wixom and Novi on Tuesday night when a fire broke out in an apartment building in Wixom around 9 p.m.

Nobody was majorly injured. 

Wixom Director of Public Safety Clarence Goodlein said they are unsure what caused the fire, but do know that it started in the southwest corner unit of the building, which is located in The Village off of N. Beck Road near Pontiac Trail.

One man who was in the apartment unit where the fire started suffered minor burns, but denied medical treatment. An elderly woman was taken to the hospital to be treated for hyperventilation, which Goodlein said was not directly caused by the fire but by the shock of it.

The fire engulfed the roof of Building 40 of The Village apartments in Wixom and had fire crews from Wixom, Walled Lake, Novi, Milford Commerce and Lyon Township on the scene.

Police officers arrived shortly after the fire began and knocked on 12-15 doors to evacuate the building, Goodlein said.

Firefighters then arrived, and by then the fire had gone up to the roof and spread along it through the tresses, he said.

The fire was brought under control within the hour. Around 10 p.m., firefighters began to enter the building, looking for fire indoors and inside of the walls. Goodlein said this would take 60-90 minutes.

At least three ladders, eight engines and two rescue trucks responded to the fire as of 10 p.m., with more approaching.

Goodlein said the fire department will call for an investigation of the fire tomorrow and should know what caused it within 48 hours.

The community reacts

Massive amounts of smoke went into the air as the fire started and could be seen from miles around.

Hundreds of people were outside in the apartment complex watching the fire unfold. Smoke filled the air and water from the fire trucks flooded one of the streets. A tree next to the building broke in half and fell to the ground.

Cynthia Sherrill, who lives in the building, was destraught over the destruction done by the fire.

"Everything I own is in there," she said with tears in her eyes.

Sherill said a police officer knocked on her door of her first floor unit and told her to get out as the fire began.

Julian Meconi, who also lives in the building, said he was watching TV with his girlfriend when he heard a lot of noise. The two grabbed their cat and guinea pig and evacuated.

Meconi said his apartment likely has water damage. His car, which was parked near the building, also suffered water damage.

His neighbor, Raymond Darvis, said he moved his car once he got out of the building.

"I heard a werid noise, opened the door, smelled smoke and heard 'Fire!'," he said.

He left with just his phone, keys and lunch bag. He said he thought about grabbing his computer and TV, but decided that he couldn't.