Woman in her 70s dies in fire at Southfield high-rise apartment complex

SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) A woman in her seventies died in a fire at her high-rise apartment building in Southfield.

According to a press release; the Southfield Fire Department said the fire happened early Saturday morning (10/19) on the fourth floor of an apartment building on Civic Center Drive at Berg Road. Southfield dispatch received a call from the victim’s neighbor at 5:03 a.m. Fire officials said crews were enroute three minutes later, and started fighting the fire by 5:12 a.m.

Fire crews found an unresponsive woman in her 70s inside the apartment. First responders performed “advanced lifesaving procedures” on her immediately—before transporting her to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead; according to fire officials.

The Fire Marshal said, thanks to a working smoke detector, neighbors knew about the fire and called 911. A working overhead sprinkler system also stopped the flames from spreading to neighboring units, fire officials said.

“Today, our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the deceased victim,” Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee said in the press release. “This tragedy accentuates the importance of always having working smoke detectors in all dwellings and sprinkler suppression systems in large living spaces. I applaud the quick action of neighbors and our firefighters for their consummate professionalism and bravery.”

The woman’s name has not been released. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.