Updated 8:30 p.m.: Firefighters battle blaze at Glencoe Hills Apartments in Pittsfield Township

The Washtenaw County Chapter of the American Red Cross also said it was assisting five families with food, clothing and shelter.

Washtenaw Avenue was closed for several hours but was reopened by 8:30 p.m.

The blaze started on the first floor at about 5:30 p.m. and spread through the second and third floors into the attic. Firefighters had to remove some of the soffit and siding to get to the fire in the attic, Gleason said.

Pittsfield Township firefighters were on the scene at Glencoe Hills until about 8 p.m.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

Gleason said the cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious. The department's fire investigator is on the scene trying to determine its origin, he said. Damage has been estimated at $40,000. Firefighters were on the scene until shortly before 8 p.m.

Residents of the affected apartments got out on their own, Gleason said, but firefighters carried out several dogs.

Pittsfield Township firefighters were assisted by units from Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township.

The apartment complex is located on the north side of Washtenaw Avenue east of Hogback Road.

A resident of a nearby apartment who would only identify himself as "Scott" said police knocked on his door about 6 p.m. and told his family to evacuate. 

"We were just hoping that they would get it so it wouldn't spread and hoping everyone that was in there got out, and I think they did," he said. His apartment was not damaged by the fire.