Fire/Rescue

Strong winds proved to be a nemesis to firefighters attempting to extinguish a blaze at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds Saturday, according to Centreville Fire Chief Dave Miracle. One merchant barn, Building 42, was destroyed and two additional suffered exterior damage, he said. Central dispatch alerted Centreville Fire at 4:11 p.m. Miracle said he noticed flames on the roof and …

An 11-year-old girl who was hospitalized for burns following a northern Indiana house fire has died, bringing the fire’s death toll to six children, all of them siblings, authorities said Monday. Angel Smith died Friday at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, the Marion County Coroner’s Office said in a Monday update. Her death was confirmed one day after a vigil was …

Fire tore through a house in South Bend, killing five children and leaving a sixth in treatment Monday for burns. People, including children, were trapped by flames on the second floor Sunday evening, the South Bend Fire Department said. Five children were pronounced dead. The sixth was taken to a hospital and later airlifted to one in Indianapolis. An adult …

Four people died and two others were injured Saturday in a Michigan house explosion that could be heard miles away, police said. The explosion happened before 4 p.m. in Northfield Township, about 45 miles west of Detroit. The structure was destroyed, leaving only the basement, Northfield Township Police Lt. David Powell told reporters Saturday. The blast, which could be heard …

A new monitor/defibrillator is on its way to the Sturgis ambulance network next year. City commission members last week approved $40,000 for the purchase of a Lifepak 15v4 monitor/defibrillator from Stryker Corp. Sturgis Department of Public Safety Director Ryan Banaszak said the fire division was in need of another cardiac monitor for its third ambulance. Since adding the spare/transfer ambulance …

The Sturgis Department of Public Safety was dispatched to a residential fire in the 600 block of South Park Street. According to an agency media release, personnel responded at 9:25 p.m. Monday. First-responding crews observed fire extending from the first to the second floor on the north side of the home. It eventually spread into the attic. There were no …

A Constantine Township man died as a result of a house fire last week. The victim was identified as 66-year-old Delbert McCallie. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said deputies and fire crews were dispatched shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday to the 13000 block of Riverside Drive, in response to a structure fire. Upon arrival, deputies …

A building that housed a diner and two upper-level apartment units was destroyed by fire early Friday in Burr Oak. Three people were present in the apartments at the time of the blaze, but were able to escape safely, fire officials said. Burr Oak Township Fire Department was dispatched to the fire shortly after midnight. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered flames …

A man who was inspired by a church sermon to set fires at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Kalamazoo was sentenced Monday to five years in prison. Joshua Brereton, 25, had pleaded guilty to committing arson at the clinic last July. The clinic was not open at the time. Planned Parenthood offers abortion services. Brereton has made videos calling abortion …

The victim of an early Sunday morning fire has been identified. Travis Williams, age 53, died in the fire. The fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. Sunday at a sub-divided house on West West Street at North Street. The Sturgis Department of Public Safety said first-arriving firefighters noticed heavy smoke and flames in an upstairs apartment. Upon entry, fire officials …