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Firefighters Rescue Child From Burning Apartment Building

HIGHLAND PARK (WWJ) - Authorities say a child remains hospitalized after an apartment complex went up in flames in Highland Park.

The fire broke out around 7 a.m. Saturday at the three-story Palmer Park Estates apartment complex on McNichols Road near Rosa Parks Boulevard, just outside of the Detroit Golf Club.

Fire Sgt. Bryan Jeffries said crews arrived on the scene and learned a child was trapped inside the building.

"There was a gentleman over here that told us when we pulled up that there was a child crying [inside the building] and he had stopped crying and they couldn't get in there," Jeffries told WWJ's Kathryn Larson. "My crew put their masks on, went into the building, did a thorough search."

The man who greeted firefighters, a 41-year-old who did not want to be identified, sat with tears streaming down his face as crews tried to find the child. Moments later, a firefighter emerged from the building with the toddler in his arms.

"I'm just glad they got the baby out. I couldn't see in there to get the baby but I called them and they came, they went right in and got the baby," he said.

Jeffries said the baby was taken to the hospital, although the child's current condition is unknown.

Officials said the fire caused moderated damage to the structure, but tenants should be able to return to their homes by the end of the day.

Early reports indicate that a table caught fire in one of the apartment units, although authorities say the cause remains under investigation.

Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.

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