Flames engulfed a three-story Haslett apartment complex at about 1 a.m. this morning.

Meridian Township firefighters were still working to douse remaining hotspots as of 3 p.m. today. All residents in the 24-unit building were safely evacuated Meridian Fire Chief Fred Cowper said.

Residents of the building, 5735 Ridgeway Drive, sought shelter with family, friends and through the Red Cross.

After spending 18 years in the same two bedroom apartment, resident Donna Dix said she had to say goodbye to it and everything she had collected throughout her life in just 30 seconds.

"Everything is gone," she said. "My china, furniture and all of my pictures."

Grabbing just her black leather handbag and a coat, Dix said she didn't even have time to grab her cell phone that was just sitting on her kitchen table. She borrowed a stranger's phone to call her daughter.

Ashes blew through the night air as residents and neighbors watched flames and smoke plumes billow over the building.

Dix lived on the third floor, where officials said the fire likely started. Witnesses said they heard a loud popping noise just before they noticed fire.

"Everything was so fast," Dix said. "I heard a knock on my neighbors door and that was it - I was just about ready to go to bed."

Dix said she will be staying with her daughter who lives in East Lansing while she works to rebuild her life.

Cowper said neighbors came to each others aid.

"The residents went up and down the hallways banging on the doors, hollering for people to evacuate," Cowper said. He said he did not know of any injuries or the cause of the fire.

He said he expected fire crews to work into daylight hours to control the blaze and conduct an investigation. Nearby buildings were also evacuated.

For more on this please see Wednesday's edition of The State News.