INKSTER, Mich. – A cleanup is underway at the Canterbury Woods Apartments in Inkster after firefighters put out a major fire Saturday.
The fire happened at the apartment complex on Tobin Drive, near Beech Daly Road and Avondale Street.
Crews were draining water and boarding up after neighbors found themselves caught in the middle of a huge fire that quickly spread to three buildings, destroying 36 units.
The fire started on the second floor right below Anita Florence's unit. She was napping in her bedroom and didn't hear the alarm going off around her.
"It was scary, I was scared," Florence said. "I was home asleep and someone came and kicked my door in."
All Florence saw was an image of a man shrouded in the thick smoke who was yelling over her bed.
"I was half sleep. I don't even know the man who came and got me," she said.
The man was a neighbor who knew Florence was home. He refused to leave without getting her out safely.
"I woke up. It was black, so I really couldn't see him until we got outside, but he guided me downstairs," Florence said.
Once outside, Florence looked back at what she escaped from. At that point it registered that the man saved her life.
"I talked to him and told him, 'Thank you,'" she said.
Florence wiped away tears and walked away only with the robe on her back, but like the 100 people displaced, they have their lives.
Diamond Snow and her boyfriend lived at the complex for just a month. Her boyfriend was home inside when the fire started. Once he escaped, he called her.
"(He) said he was rushed out of the apartment, saying our apartment was in flames," Snow said. "When he called, I could just tell he was distraught and all he could say was, 'Babe, we lost everything.'"
Within minutes, Snow returned to find her home destroyed.
"It's just a helpless feeling when you can't do anything but watch your home burn," Snow said.
The Fire Department said while there are three separate buildings, they share one attic, which allowed the flames to spread quickly.
Many people displaced are relying solely on the Red Cross because they were without renters insurance.
"We had been considering it and talking about getting it eventually," Snow said. "I guess we didn't move fast enough."
While the apartments were destroyed, everyone got out safely. Fire crews were still dousing a few hot spots Saturday afternoon.
"I would like to know how it started, but I'm just thankful everyone made it out safely, because material things can be replaced but people's lives can't," Snow said.
Local 4 News is told neighbors kicked in doors to units to get some people out safely.
The exact cause of the fire is under investigation.