Fire at Brookhaven Manor Apartments in Ann Arbor causes evacuations, one injury

A kitchen fire caused minor injuries to one resident and evacuations during the busy lunch hour at Brookhaven Manor Apartments on the Ann Arbor's south side today, fire officials said.

Officials say the fire was contained to one room in the retirement home, although smoke spread to all three floors of the building at 401 West Oakbrook Drive.

Battalion Chief Kevin Cook said the building's fire alarm triggered at about 12:16 p.m., and dispatchers received word that a room was on fire as they were responding.

"The hallway was really smoked up when they got there," Cook said.

The fire was contained to a unit on the ground floor on the eastern side of the building. Because of the smoke, numerous residents were evacuated for about an hour, and other residents were told to stay in their rooms, Cook said.

Crews were on the scene for about 90 minutes ventilating the building. Cook said all residents were allowed back inside, but the damaged apartment can't be occupied until it is cleaned.

The woman whose room was damaged was taken to the hospital for evaluation, Cook said.

The Washtenaw County Public Health Department responded to inspect the food in the building.

Cook said all 20 of the city's firefighters on duty were needed at the scene.

A damage estimate has not been calculated.