Neighbors Make The Life-Saving Difference As Fire Erupts In Apartment Building
DETROIT (WWJ) - Neighbors making the difference between life and death as fire erupts in a home on Detroit's southwest side.
"We all probably would have died in the fire," said one young boy.
As WWJ's Ron Dewey reports - neighbors in the tight knit community helped one another escape deadly flames from a fire that had begun shortly after 4 a.m. in an apartment building.
Cista Ortiz had just moved into the building.
"I couldn't breathe -- it was hard breathing -- I couldn't see nothing," said Ortiz. "I hurried up and got everybody outside and I come look it's this apartment engulfed in flames ... it was terrifying."
Thick heavy smoke filled the air as Felica Ortiz made her way to safety.
"They was banging on our back door, they were knocking on everybody's door - everybody kept on saying -- and they were yelling fire and I think that's how my aunt woke up 'cause everyone was banging on the door -- my aunt and next door neighbors had all been sleeping," said Felica Ortiz.
The top floor is totally chared and there is extensive damage throughout the building -- where there had been reports of a fire six months ago.
The fire forced several families from their homes.
Authorities say there is extensive damage to the two-story building on Rathbone near I-75 and Springwells.
No injuries have been reported. Officials are investigating the cause of the fire.
