DETROIT — Detroit fire crews are working to determine what sparked a blaze early Monday at an apartment building on the city's west side that left multiple residents hurt and displaced.

Corey McIsaac, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Fire Department, said firefighters were called to the building in the 13900 block of Littlefield Street at about 4 a.m. She said crews got there within four to six minutes.

The apartment building is on the corner of Schoolcraft Road near Interstate 96 and Schaefer Highway.

McIsaac said Monday afternoon that two adults remain in critical condition in a Detroit hospital. She said a 3-year-old child is also in critical condition at a hospital. A second child who was taken to the hospital has been treated and released.

In addition, nine other patients — five adults and four children — were treated and released, she said.

Earlier Monday, she said a total of 13 people — seven adults and six children — were rescued and taken to a hospital. Two of the adults are in critical condition, she said.

She also said she was working to get the conditions of the other injured people.

Officials remained on the scene for hours. The flames appeared to have been extinguished, and parts of the structure were charred. Authorities blocked off the front with yellow caution tape.

An emergency alert issued around 6 a.m. indicated a possible explosion.

Chuck Simms, the city's executive fire commissioner, said the blaze was contained and the cause of what is being reported as an explosion is under investigation.

He said the department used drones with thermal imaging to confirm no other people were in the building.

"We're going to follow up with the hospitals to see how everyone is doing," Simms said during a media briefing near the scene.

He said of those people taken to the hospital, three in critical condition.

"Those were the ones who suffered burns," the executive commissioner said. "They were in the same apartment and that's where we are focusing our investigation."

Simms added: "We allowed four residents of the building go in to get some of their personal belongings. They were escorted in by firefighters."

He said a demolition company will tear down the structure after investigators have finished because the building is not safe to be occupied. At about 10 a.m., McIsaac said demolition is expected to begin soon.

DTE crews were also at the scene and inspecting the building.

City tow trucks arrived to remove vehicles parked in front of the building. A white pickup truck was covered in bricks that were part of the building's facade. Debris was scattered across the street's pavement and into the empty lot on the other side.

Charles Jackson said his 30-year-old son lives in the apartment building and was sent to the hospital with two broken ribs from the blast. He said his son has two children of his own.

"When the chunks started falling, he shielded his kids, and that's how he got hurt," Jackson said. "His kids are at the hospital, too, but everybody seems to be doing good."

He said he has a grandaughter who also lives in the building, but on the side of where the damage is. She is OK, he said.

Jackson said he used to live in the building, too.

He said he got a call from a neighbor early Monday morning telling him about the explosion and fire at his son's building.

Jackson said he came to the building to pick up whatever of his family's belongings he could. "My daughter said she can't get anything out of this side, where the damage is."

He said he was going to go to the hospital later to check on his son.

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