Death investigation in Pontiac after apartment fire

Pontiac, Mich (WJBK) - The fire spread to four units in the North Hill Farms complex, those families are without a place to live right now. 

They were able to get out safely but sadly one man couldn't escape, and died in the fire. 

“Flames was so high like somebody threw a bomb a cherry bomb or something,” neighbor Fredrica Lewis said.  

Neighbors watched in horror as fire ripped through a Pontiac apartment, taking the life of a man neighbors call Danny. 

“I was here when they brought his body out, I haven't been to sleep yet,” Lewis said.

He was inside with the woman who lives there around 7 on Saturday when smoke and flames took over the one bedroom in the North Hill Farms complex near Telegraph and Dixie Highway. 

“I was at my sister house on my way to the store and I said it looks like someone got a big BBQ going,” Brian Ghee said, friend of victim. 

“All I seen windows blowing out and it was fire coming from everywhere it was so absurd it was unbelievable,” Ghee said. 

The woman inside the apartment was able to get out safely.

“I asked her is Danny in there and she said he's in there with my cat 

Fire investigators are working to figure out a cause, arson investigators were on scene but can't say at this point the fire was set on purpose.

The victim's friends say it just shouldn't have happened. 

“Sorry he aint here no more that's all I can say,” Ghee said.