Apartment building damaged in Sturgis fire

A fire early Friday morning that damaged an apartment building in Sturgis is being investigated as a suspicious incident.

The Sturgis Department of Public Safety was dispatched at 5:20 a.m. to the 1100 block of Gateway Court on a report of a fire in an eight-unit apartment at Gateway Village Apartments. Crews arriving at the scene reported heavy fire coming from the rear of the building. Two apartments were heavily impacted by fire, with the rest sustaining severe smoke damage.

The department reported an observant resident, smelled smoke and alerted occupants of the other apartments. Because of that action, officials said, residents were able to evacuate without injury prior to the department’s arrival.