An Ypsilanti Township firefighter checks out the roof of an townhouse on Villa Drive.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

A fast-spreading fire damaged at least six apartments in Ypsilanti Township and generated an explosion that blew the roof off one unit early this morning.

Firefighters from four departments battled the blaze in the River's Edge townhomes on Villa Drive, said Ypsilanti Township Fire Captain Brad Johnson. They managed to bring the fire under control in about 40 minutes, Johnson said. No one was injured.

Ypsilanti Township firefighters, who arrived shortly after a resident reported smoke at 3:51 a.m., found fire in the attic area of one unit breaking through the roof, Johnson said.

As they worked to extinguish the blaze, an explosion three units away blew the roof off that apartment and briefly engulfed a firefighter battling the original fire in flames, Johnson said. The firefighter, who was wearing protective gear, was not injured.

Fire then spread to the second floor and attic areas of apartments on either side of the one where the explosion occurred.

"We had our hands full for a while there," Johnson said. "I can't say enough about the job our firefighters did from all departments.

Twenty-six firefighters from Ypsilanti Township, Ypsilanti, Pittfield Township and Superior Township battled the blaze. The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department went door to door to evacuate residents, Johnson said.

Six of the eight units in the building suffered extensive damage, Johnson said. All of the building's residents have been displaced, however. The Washtenaw County Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting residents, he said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Johnson said, but a resident of the apartment where the fire broke out told firefighters he used a fire extinguisher to put out a small fire in a bathroom fan about two hours before residents called the Fire Department.

Apartment fire location
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