Hidden Hills apartments catch fire

(David Roush / Western Herald) Kalamazoo firefighters survey the damage caused by the fire that ripped through Hidden Hills Apartment Complex on Thursday afternoon.

Western Herald staff reports

A fire broke out at Hidden Hills apartment complex, 4284 Hidden Hills Drive, Kalamazoo and spread to 4272 Hidden Hills Drive, Thursday afternoon. Kalamazoo Fire Department and police blocked off Emajean Street for several hours while fighting the fire.
The fire affected 24 units in one building; Hidden Hills houses a total of 120 units and 412 residents total, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported.
Smoke was first noticed on the third floor, and although firefighters were still fighting the fire at 6:30 p.m., all the residents evacuated safely.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety reported in a news release.

Two men were arrested for larceny at the Hidden Hills apartment building after police were notified of suspicious activity in the burned building, Friday morning at 3 a.m., according to the news release.

A 20-year-old man and a 23-year-old man were arrested after police recovered money, jewelry and electronics, which police believe were stolen from the damaged apartment building, according to the news release. Officers came upon the two males in the damaged building and

(David Roush / Western Herald) Kalamazoo firefighters work to control flames that tore hrough housing units in Hidden Hills Apartment Complex on Thursday afternoon. Hidden Hills is a popular student housing complex that is ocated near the corner of Drake and W KL Avenue, about a mile from WMU's campus.

the suspects fled.  The suspects were arrested after a brief chase.  Both men are being lodged in the Kalamazoo County Jail, pending formal charges.

Western Michigan University is housing 18 WMU students as of Friday afternoon who lost their homes in the fire, said Diane Anderson, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. Twenty-seven WMU students lost everything. The students who are now living in the residence halls have access to the cafeteria, Anderson said.

(Photo courtesy of Jon Sobecki) Bystanders watch as flames rip through two buildings in the Hidden Hills Apartment Complex on Thursday afternoon. The apartment complex is located at 4284 Hidden Hills Drive, about a mile west from WMU’s campus.

Residence Life is coordinating donations for those who lost their apartment homes. So far, many donations have come in, Anderson said.

WMU has contacted the WMU Bookstore and professors with the names of the students who lost everything in the fire and the bookstore will loan available used books to students, Anderson said.
For those impacted by the fire, the American Red Cross is providing food and clothing and can be reached at (269) 353-6180. The Westwood Church of God is also providing clothing and those affected are asked to contact Pat at (269) 344-0985.

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Mar 12 2009. Filed under Breaking, Local, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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