Fire rips through Wixom apartment complex

WIXOM, Mich. (WXYZ) - People who escaped the fire at an apartment building in Wixom tell 7 Action News they did not hear their smoke detectors, but knew something was wrong because their cable went out and they could hear banging on the doors.

“There were fireballs falling and I was running, just running, and I had my slippers on and I got her to get out,” said Leo Vargo.

“Everything that I own, everything is right here,” said Cynthia Sherrill.

The fire started in one of the buildings at The Village Apartments in Wixom.  The complex is located near Pontiac Trail and Beck Road.  The fire started just before 9 pm Tuesday in a 36 unit building.  According to Wixom’s Director of Public Safety, at least 30 units have some sort of fire damage.

A woman living in a different building had her son call 911 while she ran to help rescue the man in the unit where the fire started.  She said he walked out with her.

“We heard banging and then we stood up and we grabbed the pets and then we ran,” said Carol Kotrlik who lived near where the fire started.

“Here we are, we are alive,” said Julian Meconi..

7 Action News has received reports about the fire from people miles away.

There are reports of minor injuries.  Two firefighters received treatment for overheating and one of the two also went to the hospital for dehydration.  Paramedics helped an elderly woman having trouble breathing but 7 Action News is told her injury is not related to the fire.

It is still not clear how the fire started.