Mundy Twp Fire Leaves 12 Units Destroyed, Families Displaced

If you happened to be driving on US-23 Sunday night and noticed thick black smoke rising into the sky, you were looking at one of the largest apartment fires Genesee County has seen in quite some time.

Crystal Lake Apartments in Mundy Township Ablaze as Local Fire Departments Come to the Rescue

What started as a garage fire at the Crystal Lake Apartments in Mundy Township quickly turned into a massive emergency. Firefighters were dispatched just before 9:45 p.m. Sunday after reports of a garage on fire at the apartment complex off Torrey Road. By the time crews arrived, the flames had already spread from the garage into a nearby apartment building.

The fire escalated so rapidly that departments from across Genesee County were called in to help battle the three-alarm blaze. Despite their efforts, the flames tore through 12 apartment units, leaving the building nearly a total loss.

One Resident Escaped With Only His Wallet, Keys, and Phone

A Resident Escaped With Only the Clothes He Was Wearing
For 25-year-old resident Jason Schiestel, the fire became life-changing in a matter of minutes.

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He said he was hanging a picture inside his apartment when he happened to glance out the window and noticed heavy smoke outside. Realizing the danger, he rushed out of the building with only his wallet, keys, cellphone, and the clothes on his back. Everything else was left behind.

Schiestel says he lost his brand-new 2025 GMC Canyon, a custom-built gaming computer, a 65-inch television, clothing, furniture, and countless personal belongings that can't simply be replaced.

More Than a Dozen Residents Are Now Starting Over

His story is one shared by many neighbors who were forced to flee with little or no warning as the fire rapidly spread through the building. Fire officials say more than a dozen residents have now been displaced by the fire and are working to find temporary housing while they figure out what comes next.

Thankfully, despite the intensity of the blaze and the extensive damage, no serious injuries have been reported according to MLive.

Fire Investigators Continue Searching for Answers in Mundy Township Blaze

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Fire investigators are working to determine exactly how the blaze started in the garage before spreading into the apartment building.

For the families who lived there, the investigation won't change the reality that they'll now be starting over after losing nearly everything in a matter of minutes.