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Fatal Fire In Clinton Township

CLINTON TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - Investigators are trying to determine the cause of an early morning apartment fire that left one person dead.

Clinton Township police say the fire started around 2:30 a.m. at Clinton Valley apartments, along Hall Road, M-59, west of Gratiot.

"When we got here we had fire on the first floor, we had fire on the second floor, we had fire out in the hallway," Fire Chief John Shea said.  "We did find a deceased resident in the first floor apartment which is where we believe the fire had originated."

Complex resident Kim Wilson said neighbors tried, and failed, to save the victim.

"One neighbor wouldn't wake up, so we knew it was coming from his apartment," Wilson said. "The fiancee of a neighbor busted in doors, kicked in, broke in windows trying to get him out. It was too late for him; fire went everywhere."

The name of the victim was not released early Monday morning, but one person who lives in the complex told WWJ's Charlie Langton the victim, in his 30s, was a manager at a local Kroger store.

No other injuries were reported.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire to one building, but the four units are a complete loss.

More information about the fire and victim is expected to be released later Monday.  Click back for details.

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