A man inside the home on the 500 block of Springle called 911 about 3:45 a.m., reporting that three teenagers were trapped inside, said Waterford Fire Battalion Chief Curtis Martin.
When firefighters arrived at the scene, the teens were safely outside, but they learned that two people were still inside, Martin said. Firefighters on a ladder rescued a 48-year-old woman from the second-floor balcony, but her son -- identified only as being in his 30s -- was found dead in an efficiency apartment behind the attached garage.
"The smoke detector worked," Martin said.
The names of the people have not been released.
The woman is the mother of one of the teens, Martin said. The other two are neighbors.
She was taken to POH Medical Center in Pontiac, where she was in serious condition Sunday afternoon. Also slightly injured was a 20-year-old White Lake Township man who was passing by the fire and stopped to help.
No emergency personnel were injured, fire officials said. Firefighters left the scene around 7:30 a.m.
The two-story wooden house was extensively damaged, Martin said. "The fire melted vinyl siding off" the home next door, he said.
Waterford fire marshals are investigating with the help of county fire officials, Martin said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Martin at 248-618-7576 anytime or contact the Waterford Police Department at 248-674-2677 anytime or (mailto:policetipstwp.waterford.mi.us) policetipstwp.waterford.mi.us.
