Children among 12 rescued, hospitalized after USA apartment fire.
More than a dozen people, including children, were hospitalized after a fire broke out at an apartment building early Monday morning on Detroit’s west side, according to fire officials.
The fire, which was reportedly accompanied by an explosion, began spreading at about 4 a.m. EDT on Littlefield Street, the Detroit Fire Department said in a news release provided to USA TODAY
Fire commissioner Chuck Simms told reporters at the scene that among the injured people rescued from the building were six children. But if not for the fast-acting rescue crews, the injuries – and damage – could have been far worse, Simms said, according to the Detroit Free Press, a USA TODAY Network publication.
“The men and women of the Detroit Fire Department did a great job this morning,” Simms said in a statement provided to USA TODAY. “Thanks to their swift work and brave actions, all residents were rescued from this building and transported to area hospitals. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.”
Six adults, six children injured in fire
Personnel from DTE look into what may have caused an early morning explosion on the 13000 block of Littlefield in Detroit on Monday, March 31, 2025.
A total of 13 people were transported for treatment at nearby hospitals, the fire department said in the news release.
Some residents were preparing to jump out of second-story windows before firefighters arrived to safely rescue them.
At least two adults and a 3-year-old girl harmed were hospitalized in critical condition, fire officials said. That includes a 30-year-old man with severe burns to nearly all his body and a 27-year-old woman.
Another child who had critical injuries was released, as well as another four adults and four children who’s injuries were not as serious, according to the fire department. A 26-year-old woman who is pregnant was continuing to be monitored at the hospital, officials said.
Gas leak? Cause of blast, fire under investigation
Personnel from DTE look into what may have caused an early morning explosion on the 13000 block of Littlefield in Detroit on Monday, March 31, 2025.
The cause of the blast and resulting fire is under investigation.
Representatives from DTE Energy, which supplies gas to the building, said the company could not confirm whether there was a leak. As a precaution, gas was shut off Monday to the building at the fire department’s request.
Apartment building to be demolished after fire
Personnel from DTE look into what may have caused an early morning explosion on the 13000 block of Littlefield in Detroit on Monday, March 31, 2025.
The blast was so powerful that it blew out windows and ripped away bricks from a the 12-unit apartment building, according to the Free Press.
Officials told the Free Press that all occupants appeared to have been evacuated from the building based on thermal imaging from drones.
But what’s left of the building will need to be demolished. One of the apartment building’s supporting walls looked as if were about to cave in Monday as demolition crews try to stabilize the structure, the Free Press reported.
Personnel from DTE look into what may have caused an early morning explosion on the 13000 block of Littlefield in Detroit on Monday, March 31, 2025.
