Dozens of residents displaced from homes after a Christmas Day fire in Sterling Heights

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (FOX 2) - Dozens of families were displaced out of their homes after flames filled their apartment building Christmas morning. 

The fire happened at The Sterling Troy Apartments near 15 mile and Dequindre in Sterling Heights and some residents are still in disbelief. 

“All of a sudden pounding on the door and hearing people saying ‘you need to evacuate,’ and we grabbed what we could and then we came out,” said apartment resident Ryan Bieber. 

After the fire, there were many displaced residents standing on Dequindre watching emergency crews work to get the fire under control. 

“Fire moves very fast in this type of construction,” said Sterling Heights Fire Chief, Chris Martin. 

While working on the fire, one firefighter was rushed to a nearby hospital because of an injury. 

“One of the firefighters broke his leg when he got tangled into a fire hose,” said Martin.

Three residents did receive minor injuries and one of them was transported to a local hospital. 

The Salvation Army was called to help residents and neighboring fire departments also pitched in to do their part. 

“We called in as many people as we could, but again Christmas morning is not the ideal time to have something like this happen,” Martin said. 

Many residents are calling it a Christmas miracle that they got out alive.

“I’m just thankful that I’m alive,” said apartment resident Donald Lekli.