1 killed, many others displaced after fire at Downtown Detroit high-rise where residents say elevators weren't working

DETROIT (WWJ) -- One person is dead and others looking for a new place to live following a fire at a high rise apartment building in Downtown Detroit.

Reporting from the Kamper Stevens Apartments, WWJ's Mike Campbell said it's said an electrical problem may be to blame for the fire that broke out Monday at the 22 story building filled with senior citizens age 62 and up,

One person found dead in the stairwell was described as only as a resident of the building, and two other people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.

One major concern following this tragic incident, Campbell said, was that residents had trouble quickly getting out of the building, on Washington Blvd., near Woodward Ave.

Officials said only one of four elevators in the building were operating, Campbell reported.

Fay Ray lives, who lives on the eighth floor, said it's been like that for months.

"This building is so poorly put together," she told Campbell. "How can anyone with a heart — I'm gonna put it like that, anyone with a heart — How could they do this to another human being?"

Joe Otis, who lives on the 18th floor, said he's been put up in a hotel by the management and has been there for a while since the electricity has been on and off.

He's a little more forgiving.

"They just got that popping open last week," he said, of the working elevator. "I ain't taking no stairs... I'm too old, man."

Otis said he's told that 104 people live in the building, although the exact number was not immediately verified by WWJ.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.