LESLIE, Mich. - Ten firefighters were among 11 people injured during a blaze that caused part of a building's roof to collapse in the mid-Michigan community of Leslie.


The fire was reported just before 7 a.m. Saturday at Moo's Bar & Grille in downtown Leslie, but a "mayday" alert was called at 9:18 a.m. when a patio-type roof atop the building's first-floor roof fell.

The weight caused the floor to fall in, "sucking" several firefighters down, officials said in a news release.

A rescue team was called in to help free the firefighters.

Most of the 11 people injured suffered smoke inhalation and about half were expected to be admitted to Lansing's Sparrow Hospital, spokesman John Foren told The Associated Press.

All were listed in stable condition and none of the injuries were considered life-threatening, Foren said.

Leslie is about 20 miles southeast of Lansing.

Smoke and flames billowing from a second-floor apartment greeted firefighters when they arrived at the building. A person in that apartment escaped the flames, but suffered smoke inhalation and was among those treated at the hospital.

"I saw the smoke seven miles out of town," said Heather Stanley, who was driving to work at a local restaurant. "There were lots of fire trucks. As I got closer I saw the flames."

Several area fire departments battled the blaze and a number of ambulance companies were called in to help transport the injured.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. The building and bar were believed to be a total loss.

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