Lansing apt. fire ruled accident, smoking considered possible cause

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The fire that destroyed a building in the Trappers Cove Apartments, 3001 Trappers Cove Trail, in Lansing, is being ruled an accident, Lansing Fire Department Capt. Maggie Murphy said.

The fire was ruled accidental Wednesday, and the department is not ruling out careless smoking as the cause of fire, Murphy said.

The fire started in the center of the building on the first floor outside of a sliding glass door and spread upward to a second-floor balcony.

Murphy said the wind was blowing toward the building, causing the flames to move upward. Once the flames ignited the upper floors, the fire took a V-pattern, ripping through the attic area to the left and right of the building.

Murphy said the building is a total loss; however, some items from the apartments have been salvaged.

Alison Bono, a spokeswoman for the Mid-Michigan chapter of the American Red Cross, said the shelter for victims of the fire closed Tuesday; however, the American Red Cross still is assisting people with necessities.

Bono said there are a few people the organization has put up in hotel rooms, and it still is collecting materials for the victims.

Goodwill has donated clothing and necessities for those displaced by the fire.

There have been phone calls inquiring about services being offered by the American Red Cross. However, Bono said people haven’t been coming in to register.

She said it might have to do with final exams and students being busy.

“I know some of the students are in the middle of final exams, and they’re just pushing through to get that stuff done and get everything taken care of for school,” Bono said.

Murphy said the Trappers Cove fire and the Elm Place fire are examples of why people should invest in renter’s insurance and make sure their smoke detectors work.

“Only five people in the building had renter’s insurance,” Murphy said. “It’s just a good testimony for smoke detectors and renter’s insurance.”

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