KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Firefighters were on the scene of a fatal fire at a condominium complex in Kalamazoo Township well into the night Wednesday.
The Cloisters Condos unit caught on fire at roughly 4:20 p.m.
At 9 p.m., officials confirmed that an elderly woman was killed in the fire. It took them several hours to get inside due to the intensity of the blaze.
Officials say a resident tried to save the woman, but the fire was just too intense and they weren’t able to get to her.
The frigid temps didn’t help responders in fighting the blaze, as the water froze making for slippery conditions.
Karen Adams, who lives nearby, was brought to tears as she walked around the complex. She says she knows the woman who died and is heartbroken.
“I want people to say prayers because it can happen to anyone at any given time,” she said.
At least five units were damaged. Displaced residents are taking shelter in a nearby clubhouse and the Red Cross was called into help.
Kalamazoo Twp. Fire Marshall Todd Kowalski says the cause of the fire is still unknown but they don’t believe it to be suspicious.
The woman’s name has not yet been released.
