12/21/22 - Meridian Twp apartment building fire, 2300 Knob Hill

The Meridian Twp Fire Department was dispatched to a still alarm for a couch on fire in an apartment at 2300 Knob Hill Dr at 11:03 AM on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. Based on the dispatch information, command immediately requested the alarm be elevated to a possible structure fire with automatic aid from the East Lansing Fire Department. Truck 93 was first to arrive from their station 2 blocks away. They were confronted with a 3 story, multi-unit apartment building with heavy fire on all 3 floors and people needing rescue from floors 2 and 3. Command requested more ambulances and additional mutual aid for aerials and manpower from the NIESA, Mason, and Lansing fire departments. Initial attempts at an interior search were thwarted by the fire's rapid advance as flames quickly broke through the roof. Aerials and master streams were deployed for a defensive attack. Possible extension became apparent into 2314 Knob Hill, another apartment building of equal size that was attached to the C-D corner of the original fire building. Crews made entry into 2314 to check for extension and evacuate. No extension was found at that time. Shortly afterward, the fire made it clear it was moving into the 2314 building and attack strategies changed to stop that extension. Firefighters working inside the 2314 building had to be evacuated after a pancake floor collapse occurred. At the height of the blaze, 5 aerial trucks were operating on this fire. As the fight continued, police and fire officials were in the process of tracking down residents to determine if anyone was still inside the 2300 building. It was determined one person did not make it out. After the fire was knocked down and utilities were secured, investigators from Meridian Twp, East Lansing, Lansing Twp, and the Michigan State Police, began the search for the victim. An excavator was used to carefully comb through the layers of debris. After the victim was located, the rest of the 2300 building was leveled to make the area safe. Firefighters were on the scene working for over 15 hours.