A late night Friday fire in the downriver community of Southgate assisted living caught fire again on Sunday morning, according to authorities.
A large structure fire began at the American House a senior independent and assisted living facility in Southgate at around 10:06 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. On Sunday morning, Oct. 26, Southgate police said the complex is fully engulfed once again with firefighters at the scene.
The original fire left 81 residents displaced from the facility at 16333 Allen Road. The remaining displaced residents have found temporary homes.
While some residents were taken to local hospitals to be evaluated and treated, others were reunited with families or remained at the Southgate Senior Center.
Smoke can be seen from the American House in Southgate where a fire has started once again on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, after the initial fire started on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Southgate police Lt. Robert Lukofsky told the Free Press Sunday morning as of Saturday morning, 17 residents needed placement. By 2 p.m. Saturday, those remaining 17 were picked up and taken elsewhere.
Lukosky said they were overrun with donations that included clothing, canned goods and blankets.
“The senior center is requesting that no additional donations be brought in at this time, as they have already received an abundance of community support and resources,” according to a Southgate Police department news release.
Two people, a firefighter and a civilian, were injured in the fire.
Rescuers saved three dogs from the fire, however, one cat was reported dead.
At the time of the fire, there were 87 residents and staff inside the building. According to a Saturday update from American House, its residents and team members “evacuated the building without incident” and the buildings “fire systems deployed as designed.”
“The team at American House has been fully mobilized to provide any and all support to our residents, their families and our dedicated team members,” said American House CEO, Dale Watchowski, American House CEO, in the update.
American House expressed gratitude to its team and to first responders, Corewell Health and the Red Cross as well as surrounding communities for their support for the late night fire.
Lori Bender, a spokesperson for American House, said they will be holding an open house early next week for displaced Southgate residents at its American House Riverview location to help align them with other communities in southeast Michigan. Southgate American House is also working with its team members to find positions at other facilities. Bender told the Free Press some team members have already found positions at neighboring facilities.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
In 2023, there was a massive fire at nearby The Meadows of Southgate Meadows, a 55 and older apartment community.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: American House in Southgate on fire once again
American House, Southgate police, Southgate, residents, structure fire, Sunday morning
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