Victim Jumps From Building Tells Story

March 21, 2008

ALLEGAN COUNTY — A fire sweeping through a woman's apartment last night, forced her to jump out the window leaving her thankful to be alive today.

"It's the most surreal thing and it happened within 2 to 3 minutes. It happened so fast it's just amazing," fire victim Michelle Van Stedum told FOX 17 News about the blaze that destroyed her apartment on 10 Center Street in Douglas.

Last night, someone pounded on Michelle's door, warning her that a dumpster had caught fire, but the fire had already blocked her escape.

For hours, Saugatuck Township fire crews worked with two other departments to battle the flames. A fight that took about 300,000 gallons to put out the fire.

"Within that minute or two, the fire had just totally engulfed the stairs and up the side of the building and I couldn't get out that way," said Michelle.

So Michele and her dog Sarah had to find another way out.

As a group of people waiting below caught her dog, Michelle climbed out the window, eased her way down to an awning and then neighbors caught her.

"I feel like I've been blessed. Yeah... yeah, I'm very happy to be alive."

A fund has been set up for the three people who lived in the building. Donations can be made in care of Barry Koch, Steve Turner, and Michelle Van Stedum at the Douglas branch of Macatawa Bank.