Easter Morning Apartment Blaze Displaces Residents In Livonia

LIVONIA (WWJ) It was an unhappy Easter for the residents of one apartment building, Franklin Square Apartments at 5 Mile Road and Middlebelt in Livonia, where an early morning blaze broke out, displacing several residents and injuring a firefighter.

Firefighters said two injuries were severe and two were moderately injured, mostly by smoke inhalation and burns. One firefighter injured his ankle battling the blaze.

A full investigation is under way, with fire investigators saying the cause doesn't appear to be suspicious.

One of the displaced residents, Steve Rakowski, described the chaotic scene after police knocked on his door, telling him to get out of the building. Rakowski said he believed two people were injured, and were rushed by helicopter to a local hospital.

"I got woke up about 5:30 this morning," Rakowski said to WWJ Newsradio. "My apartment was full of smoke; Livonia police knocked on my doorwall telling me to get out."

Rakowski believes the residents who were airlifted out lived in the apartment where the conflagration started. As for Rakowski, he says he'll go stay with his mom who lives about a mile away. And he has nothing but praise for Livonia police and firefighters, who he says did an excellent job getting everyone out of the building.