Article Photos

HANCOCK - Arson is suspected in an apartment building fire that killed four people in downtown Hancock Saturday morning.

According to Michigan State Police at the Negaunee Post, firefighters were called to a structure fire on 116 Quincy Street at approximately 5 a.m. Police said the fire caused four fatalities.

"It was a fairly good-sized fire," said Neil Ahola, second assistant chief of the Hancock Fire Department. "The fire seemed to be in the rear of the building on the second and third floors."

Ahola said the building had three stories and contained nine apartments.

"We were able to save the structure," he said, adding that the interior suffered extensive damage while the exterior was saved. As a precautionary measure, residents of the building and nearby houses were evacuated.

The fire was extinguished by about 11 a.m., according to police.

The Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton reported the building is home to Directions Unlimited Inc., a drop-in center for outpatient mental health and substance abuse, as well as at least two floors of apartments.

Tammy Racine is one of many who lived in the building.

"It started about 5 a.m., I was laying down watching TV with my boyfriend, getting ready to go to sleep. We heard the smoke alarm start and thought it was just someone being stupid," Racine said. "Then we started smelling smoke and heard (our neighbor) running through the halls yelling 'fire.'"

Racine also said the fire started in the rear of the building.

"In the back it started (in) like the laundry room, and it went down through the floor down into (Directions Unlimited Inc.)," she said.

Multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including Hancock City Fire Department, Calumet Township Fire Department, Houghton Fire Department and firefighters from other area towns.

Michigan State Police at the Negaunee Post said arson is suspected and the case remains under investigation. Names of the victims were not released.