GRAND BLANC, Mich. -- Many residents were awakened by a loud knocking at the door and the shouted words, “The building is on fire.”

All people could do was watch as Grand Bend Club in Grand Blanc went up in smoke around 11:30 a.m. Friday.

The Grand Blanc Fire department called in extra help to handle the blaze, but it still got the attic, where it quickly spread.

Eight apartments were destroyed and many more were damaged. “We had renters here who do not have renters insurance,” said a firefighter at the scene. “It's $10 per month, please get renters insurance – everything you have in the building is not covered because it’s your private property.”

Firefighters said the building’s firewalls kept the flames from doing even more damage to the structure.

The Red Cross is helping house those now homeless because of the fire.

Neighbors said the fire started with a pair of candles that may have tipped over in one man’s apartment.

The Grand Blanc Fire Department is taking that into consideration as it continue its investigation into the cause of the fire.