Man escapes from apt in Shelby blaze

SHELBY, Mich. (WOOD) - A laundromat, photography studio, pizza place and bar were destroyed by fire in Shelby. The fire was so intense, investigators may never know how it started.

But firefighters knew when they got there people may be in the apartments above the bar.

One was vacant and no one was home at the second apartment.  But Jason Claeys was trapped on both ends of the fire in the third apartment.

Firefighters knew someone was up there because they saw his car parked outside.

Claeys first tied to get out the front door, then the back door. As thick black smoke rolled into his apartment, he headed for the window. Firefighters threw a ladder to that window, and Claeys made his escape.

He was afraid for his life "for a minute there, yeah. When I checked and seen the fire was at the door I had to get out of there right away."

Once he saw the ladder, "It didn't take me long to get out."

It's believed the fire began at The Other End Sports Bar. The investigation continues.