Update: Two Cascade Township condos destroyed by fire

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) - At least two town home-style condos have been destroyed and a third heavily damaged after a fire at the Forest Hills Condominiums in Cascade Township.

The fire started around midnight Sunday morning.

The majority of the fire damage was contained to the attic space of two condos. The rest of the damage was caused by smoke and water.

All six units in the building were evacuated while firefighters worked to put out the fire. The American Red Cross is assisting those now homeless; it has put eight people in hotels overnight.

Investigators aren't sure what started the fire just yet, but have reason to believe it could be electrical. The owner of the condo where the fire started told WZZM 13 News that most of her lights went off shortly after she took a shower. She checked the bulbs and the circuit breakers, but could not the lights back on.

A few minutes later she noticed an odor in the condo, but couldn't tell what it was or where it was coming from.

However, a neighbor noticed smoke coming from her attic and called 911. When Cascade Township firefighters arrived there still wasn't any smoke or fire in the resident's home. They then went outside and saw the fire beginning.

"Once we checked a little further we found the number one building with smoke coming out of the eves," says Lieutenant Doug Venema of the Cascade Fire Department. "Very shortly thereafter it broke through the roof. We were able to contain it to the first two buildings, we've got a little bit of water damage in the third."

The Cascade Township Fire Department was assisted by the Kentwood, Caledonia and Ada Fire Departments. Lt. Venema says the aerial support from Kentwood and Caledonia helped immensely since Cascade does not have a ladder truck.

"In a particular situation like this where we've got a three story building and heavy fire up top the aerial trucks do make all the difference," he says.

A complex manager says smoke detectors are installed in all of the buildings. But she added, "You never know if they're working."

In late December 2008, another condo unit in the complex burned down after a vehicle caught fire while parked in a car port.