Fire/Rescue

St. Joseph County Register of Deeds Pattie Bender provided details this week related to the development of a program using a red-flag system to identify meth houses. During her annual report presented at Tuesday’s county commission meeting, Bender said she and a team of county officials met last year with Three Rivers attorney Pat O’Malley. The focus was to discuss …

The Sturgis Police Department recently presented awards to its personnel for various honors. The Professional Service Award was given to Det./Sgt. Ryan Banaszak. He was selected for the honor by Director of Public Safety Geoff Smith. Meritorious Service Award recipients were Sgt. Jeremy Marsh, and officers Brian Cooper and Frank Noel. The award was presented for their part in a …

A single-vehicle accident in Cass County this week resulted in injuries to a 19-year-old Marcellus man. Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said his office was called Tuesday to investigate a personal-injury crash in Penn Township. The victim, Jacob High, was southbound on Ely Road, when his vehicle ran off the roadway and struck a tree.  High was transported by ambulance to …

A 56-year-old Kalamazoo man died Tuesday following a six-vehicle accident on U.S. 131 in Schoolcraft. Richard Simmons died after the southbound car he was in was rear-ended at the north end of the village. The force of the collision pushed his vehicle into a power pole just south of West Lyons Street. The car was on fire as it crashed …

The Sturgis Fire Department responded to a fire at Cobalt Holdings early Monday. According to a department media release, at 6:22 a.m., a water-flow alarm was reported from the building, located in the 1100 block of North Centerville Road. Upon arrival, fire personnel noticed smoke emitting from the north side of the building. The fire is believed to have started …

Sturgis firefighters were called to a home in the 300 block of South Fourth Street just after 7 p.m. Wednesday for a kitchen fire. Fire personnel arrived to find the homeowner with a garden hose spraying water through the back door of the home. Fire crews entered the structure and extinguished the fire. Officials said the house sustained considerable smoke …

With the transition to fire protection coverage from the city of Three Rivers Fire Department, it will no longer be necessary for Lockport Township residents to call for a burn permit. The action is not required because Lockport Township residents won’t be charged for a fire response. Residents are reminded that open burning of household trash that contains plastic, rubber, …

Three Rivers Fire Chief Dan Tomlinson has announced he is resigning from the position later this summer. In a prepared statement, Tomlinson said he will step down around Aug. 1, but a firm date will be set once a replacement has been hired and adequately trained. Tomlinson, who has spent nearly 30 years in the industry, said philosophical differences over …

Crews from two departments spent Wednesday morning battling a fire at an apartment building at 121 N. Lincoln Ave. in Three Rivers. The blaze was reported by a passer-by around 6:45 a.m. The site is just east of the BP gas station. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and fire on the first floor. The interior fire was brought under …

The Fabius Park Fire Department has brought aboard a pair of new firefighters. Joining the department are Justin Miller and Jake Fassett, giving the department a 23-person roster. Miller and Fassett are set to receive training during the next firefighter’s academy in Kalamazoo County.