Questions remain after a deadly apartment fire in Westland. Residents are concerned the apartment complex could be responsible.
24 units were destroyed in the Sunday morning fire at the Willow Creek Apartments in Westland.
68-year-old Verlene Johnson died in the fire. Residents tell 7 Action News she was in a wheelchair.
Residents said they complained to management about the lack of wheelchair access before the fire, but now someone has died.
"We made it out and there was somebody who couldn't make it out,” said Jerica Cushenberry, whose apartment was destroyed in the fire.
"When we heard that there was still somebody in there, we wanted to run back in there and to hear hours later that they couldn't even get her out. I send my condolences to that family,” she said.
Cushenberry and her 7-year-old daughter, Madison, were able to get out safely.
"I don't care about the materialistic things, because at the end of the day, I have the only thing that's the most important to me still here,” said Cushenberry.
She did lose a lot of memories, pictures and belongings of her mother who passed away recently. As difficult as that is for her, she is grateful for what she still has.
"That's the only thing, you know, that is kind of hard about all of this, but like I said before, all of that stuff can be replaced,” said Cushenberry.
She and other residents are very concerned about the safety of the building. Along with the wheelchair access issues, there are notes on the building’s doors about improper wiring and many residents heard there were no firewalls.
Cushenberry said the fire spread quickly.
"It was like a piece of paper on fire, I was told that our apartments don't have firewalls,” said Cushenberry.
Willow Creek management has not yet responded to requests for comments.
The fire is still under investigation.
There is a GoFundMe account for Jerica Cushenberry and Madison,you can click here to help.
