WDIV
Reprinted with Permission

PLYMOUTH, Mich. - The Plymouth Fire Department's chief says an electric blanket may be to blame for an apartment fire early Thursday morning.


The fire broke out at the Park Manor apartments, which are on Plymouth Road between Lilly and Haggerty roads.

Chief Mark Wendell said the powerful wind chill made it difficult for firefighters to battle the blaze.

"Since we're dealing with water and cold temperatures, we've got people slipping and falling. We're trying to monitor that. We're trying to keep it as safe as we can under the circumstances," he said.

Firefighters from Canton Township, Plymouth, Northville Township and Livonia were called in to fight the fire at the 20-unit building.

The Plymouth's city manager said the building is a total loss.

Fire crews said they pumped 11,000 gallons of water per minute to battle the blaze.

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