Fire at Chandler Crossing Leaves Students Without Homes, Essential Items
A fire at the Chandler Crossing apartment complex on May 9 displaced 46 residents, according to the American Red Cross, leaving those impacted searching for answers.
The fire, which was started by carelessly discarded smoking materials, was so large it required a response from six fire departments, including help from East Lansing and DeWitt, Bath Township Fire Chief Marty Koonter said.
“Our guys immediately had called for extra manpower,” Koonter said. “When I got on scene, I also asked for more manpower, realizing this was going to be a pretty labor intensive fire.”
The fire has left the building’s residents, many of which are college students, searching for a new place to live and without essential items that were lost in the fire, like medication and important documents. Nonprofit organizations and Michigan State University have since mobilized to help those impacted.
MSU Director of Issues Management Amber McCann said the university is working to help affected students by connecting them with MSU’s Care and Intervention team, which supports students’ mental and physical health. Additionally, MSU’s food bank and basic needs program, Spartan Shelf, has been a part of the response.
The American Red Cross is also working with victims of the fire, according to regional communications director David Olejarz.
“We are providing assistance to help meet the students’ immediate needs, which includes spiritual care and replacing lost items like prescription medications and eyeglasses, and other assistance,” Olejarz said in a statement.
Property manager Aubrey Friedrich also posted on Facebook about ongoing efforts to collect donations for residents. Friedrich declined a request to comment.
In the Facebook post, she said the property managers are accepting clothing and personal hygiene products for tenants between the ages of 18 and 25 in the main office of the apartment complex on Hunsaker Drive.
Reporting by The State News, MSU’s student newspaper, shows that some students were left in limbo after the fire, uncertain if they would receive any assistance from insurance to replace items lost.
A resident interviewed by The State News for a May 13 story said they do not believe they will receive compensation from their renter’s insurance because the money will likely go towards replacing the building, instead of tenants’ belongings.
Alden Wack moved out of a different building at the Chandler Crossing complex at 10 a.m. the day of the fire. He said he was informed about the fire from a friend living nearby
“She sent me a video of smoke bellowing out from the area and I was shocked,” Wack said.
Management evaluated its other properties for vacancies to house those who were displaced, according to an email property managers sent to residents, which Wack shared with East Lansing Info.
“The leasing manager basically said that any vacant rooms are going to be utilized if need be,” Wack said. “I don’t know if anybody has been moved yet.”
The email shared by Wack said that residents without roommates may be paired with those displaced by the fire.
“If your apartment currently has a vacant bedspace, please expect a new resident to be placed in that space,” the email says.