Fire/Rescue

A multi-family residence was destroyed by a fire last weekend in Sturgis. The blaze started around 12:30 a.m. Saturday in the 500 block of West Congress Street, according to Sturgis Fire officials. The occupants evacuated safely but the extent of damage was too great and has left the structure uninhabitable. The Sturgis Fire Department received aid from three additional agencies, …

A 51-year-old Sturgis woman died in a house fire Friday night. Sturgis Police identified the victim as Lori Miller, who resided at 1107 Merryview Drive. Officials responded to the blaze around 9:30 p.m. Friday. Investigators said the house was fully engulfed in flames upon their arrival. Her husband and mother managed to escape the residence, but they told fire personnel …

Three Rivers Fire Department Chief Dan Tomlinson said personnel responded to a carbon monoxide problem at a residence where furnace vents were blocked with snow. In light of the recent issue, Tomlinson suggested residents to be sure snow is cleared from around their gas meters, venting and fresh-air intakes are unobstructed, and steps to clear snow from roofs be taken, …

The Sturgis Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire early Wednesday at 204 North Centreville Road. All occupants were outside the home when firefighters arrived, with flames and heavy smoke in the front half of the residence. The structure appears to be a total loss due to heavy heat, smoke, and water damage. The cause of the fire is …

Members of the Fabius and Park townships fire boards have agreed to fund a second-shift staff member. The boards agreed earlier this month to man its station from 3 to 11 p.m. in hopes of reducing response times. The cost is expected to be shy of $40,000, but officials from both townships noted several money-saving steps undertaken by the fire …

The cause of a weekend fire that killed an 11-month-old girl remains under investigation by authorities from the Michigan State Police and the Sturgis Fire Department. No new details were available Tuesday regarding the Sunday morning fire at the Gateway Court apartment where an 11-month-old girl perished as a result of the blaze. The fire started in the master bedroom …

A house in Three Rivers was severely damaged by heat and smoke as the result of a fire Sunday afternoon. According to Three Rivers Fire Chief Dan Tomlinson, the residence at 707 7th St., was filled with smoke and fire was emitting from a first-floor window as crews arrived at 5:30 p.m. Nobody was home at the time of the …

The Sturgis Fire Department was dispatched to an apartment complex fire shortly after 5:30 Sunday morning at Gateway Village. Upon arrival of police and fire personnel, they were advised that an infant was still in the apartment. The 11-month-old girl was rescued, and was later pronounced dead at Sturgis Hospital. The fire reportedly started in the parent’s bedroom who awoke …

A man faces trial on involuntary manslaughter and child abuse charges in a February apartment fire in Kalamazoo that killed three young children who were left home alone. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports jury selection for 19-year-old Fred Glespie is expected to begin Tuesday and last several days. The Benton Harbor man is charged in the Feb. 18 fire at Interfaith …

Appointments and re-appointments were made by members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week. Constantine-area resident David Miars was reappointed to another three-year term on the county’s Board of Public Works. His current term expires at the end of the year. Deb Leyes of Sturgis was tapped to serve a one-year term as a general-public representative on …