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Six homes are gone along with everything inside and six families are displaced after a fire spread through an apartment building at the the Ridgewood Vista Apartments near Jackson. Firefighters say the fire at this apartment building began around 7a.m. Friday morning. Miraculously no one was hurt.

"I couldn't get over how loud it was and how fast," said Shawna Gerry, a neighbor. "You could see it go from one unit to the next unit."

"The neighbor who first recognized the smoke and fire was able to go to the apartments knocking and waking most of the occupants and getting them out safely," said Scott Grajewski, a Sergeant and Public Safety Officer.

David Lyons is one of the residents whose home was destroyed. He is also the one who first recognized the smoke, fire, and alerted his neighbors. He may not realize it but he is a hero. Not only did he get his family out of this burning apartment building, he helped get everyone else out as well. Had it not been for his actions, someone might have gotten seriously injured or died.

"I told my wife get up, get the baby out, there's a fire," said Lyons.

The residents in the building got out was quickly as they could. Some kids left without shoes on their feet. What makes the tragedy worse, is the buildings house low income families.

"Being that it is a low income housing," said Gerry. "that they are trying to get on their feet anyway and this is just devastating. The people don't have homes, and they don't have clothes and everybody here has kids."

The cause of the fire is unknown, although the fire department is investigating.

"The initial indication that we received from the original caller indicated that the fire may have started on the house side decking," said Grajewski.

Between the fire, smoke and water damage, everything inside the building is total loss. The homes are structurally unsafe and no one is allowed back in to try and salvage anything. The only good news, is that everyone is safe.

The American Red Cross has put the families in hotels, and has given them food and clothing allowances. If you'd like to help out, the Red Cross South Central Michigan Chapter is accepting gift cards to stores like Meijer, Walmart, Target, etc. and money to help get the families back on their feet. You can drop off any donations or call the number listed below to help.

American Red Cross
3425 Francis St.
Jackson, MI 49203
517-782-9486