Fire damages Hill Street apartments

By Caitlin Nish

Daily Staff Reporter

Ann Arbor firefighters battled a blaze in a three-story apartment building located at 408 Hill St. yesterday morning.

Ann Arbor Fire Department Fire Marshall Scott Rayburn said the fire broke out at 3:26 a.m.

While there were no injuries reported, firefighters were forced to rescue three people from the top windows of the Amvest Property Management apartment building.

Rayburn said that some residents exited the building via low balconies.

"We went out back to the parking lot and the back windows of the building and the whole top floor were all in flames. The roof caught on fire a little and a wire fell and sparked and it got everyone excited," said LSA junior Kristina Grabbe, a neighbor.

With 24 firefighters from four of the six Ann Arbor fire stations helping with the blaze, the fire was under control after an hour, Rayburn said.

But, "at 8:30 (a.m.) there was still a firetruck and six or seven vehicles," said LSA senior Shoshi Derrow, who also lives near the building.

According to a posting on the building's entrance, "the building is not habitable due to fire damage and use or occupancy has been prohibited by the building official."

The fire is currently under investigation.

"It does not appear to be accidental, it is suspicious," Rayburn said.

In order to determine whether arson was the cause of the fire, samples from the charred remains must be sent for laboratory testing.

"We have to send samples to the Michigan State Police for testing. Usually it is six to eight weeks unless someone decides to start talking," Rayburn said.

If the fire department determines that there is a possibility of arson, the police department will be called in to assist in a criminal investigation.

JESSICA JOHNSON/Daily

Pioneer High School senior Marshall O'Keefe plays video games at Pinball Pete's on South University Avenue yesterday.