WALKER, Michigan — The Walker Fire Department says wind conditions caused the fire to quickly spread at Green Ridge Apartments Monday.
The fire started around 2:30 p.m. on the first floor patio of one of the apartments located on Weatherford Drive NW.
When crews arrived, they found flames had traveled up the side of the apartment building into the attic.
Walker fire says the building had a fire suppression system in living areas but the fire overcame the suppression system due to the wind conditions.
“That’s part of what took so long, by the time you get ahead of it, you thought you were getting ahead of it, that wind drove it, gave it enough fuel and energy to push past to get to the next set of apartments,” said Walker Fire Chief David Pelton.
Firefighters were forced to start attacking the flames from above using the aerial truck.
Pelton said it took about 45 minutes to knock down the fire initially, and crews remained on scene for several hours after to extinguish any hotspots.
"I came out of Hobby Lobby and saw the flames shooting and the black smoke," said resident Waverly Knight, who lives in the apartment complex but was not impacted by the fire.
"Just watching people come out of the apartment complex with their animals wrapped in blankets and stuff and just hoping and praying that nobody got hurt," she said.
The fire department says firefighters were able to prevent the other half of the apartment building from catching fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Pelton said it could take from six weeks to six months to complete the investigation.
The Red Cross is now assisting 60 residents who are displaced after the fire. Residents impacted by the fire can contact the Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS for further information and assistance.
It took multiple fire departments in addition to Walker Fire Department to help put out the fire including firefighters from Grand Rapids, Alpine Township and Plainfield Township.
Walker fire thanked Allendale Township and Marne Fire and Rescue for covering its Walker stations while battling the fire.
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