3 rescued from fire at sprawling vacant Detroit apartments

DETROIT (AP) - Authorities in Detroit say firefighters rescued three apparent squatters from a blaze that destroyed a sprawling, four-story apartment building on the city's west side.

Authorities say people probably were trying to keep warm when they started a fire in the basement of the building Sunday morning. The fire spread throughout the building, and flames were visible from miles away.

The fire started about 6 a.m. and was mostly contained by 8:30 a.m. The three people who were rescued were taken to hospitals.

Neighbors tell The Detroit News (http://bit.ly/1ycEfPv ) that the apartments had been empty for at least five years. The gutted building is next door to a mission called I Am My Brother's Keeper Ministries.

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Information from: The Detroit News, http://detnews.com/