Woman relies on oven to keep Detroit apartment warm when boiler goes out

DETROIT(WJBK) - The end of the week has brought bone-chilling temperatures to Michigan. For people living in one Detroit apartment building, going inside isn't an escape.

The residents of Fountainview Apartments haven't had heat for several days. The building's boiler is busted and now they're left out in the cold.

"I spent $1300 to move in here two weeks ago and this is my end results right here," Robin Gardner said.

She's had to wear gloves and winter boots inside her Detroit apartment on Greenfield. She said for the past week, they've had no heat.

"I might have to move or go to a hotel because it I can't stay here it's just too cold at night," she said.

She's taken to using her oven to keep her and her 12-year-old daughter warm as temperatures plummet.

Gardner says one of the burners on the stove went out because she's used it too much. She does remember to turn her oven off when she leaves or goes sleep but she worries about her electric bill. Gardner says she was never even told the boiler in the complex broke.

"I'm calling and calling and calling. Nobody wants to answer. I had to find out from another tenant," Gardner said.

When we talked to the manager of the apartment complex, he said they had to order parts from out of the country and those parts just arrived. He said the boiler is in the process of being fixed and should be by Friday night or Saturday, at the latest.

The manager says the the boiler costs about $12,000 to fix and he's doing everything he can. Some long-time neighbors saying they've never had any issues before.

The apartment manager agrees to give everyone some relief on their electric bills and Gardner is hoping that promise is kept.