Fire/Rescue

Flowerfield Township officials have agreed to renew the township’s contract with the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department. During action last week, township officials agreed to the fixed-rate payment of $18,000 for service to the eastern half of the township through 2013. The township has a separate agreement with Marcellus for coverage on the western half of Flowerfield Township’s jurisdiction.

Park Township has paid off the loan used to help purchase its half of the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department station. Following action its members took last week, the Park Township Board of Trustees agreed to allocate the final amount to cover the $300,000 loan it took out to help cover the $750,000 it needed for its half of the $1.5 …

A number of city officials and Sturgis residents attended an open house last week to honor outgoing deputy fire chief Scott Hopkins. A 40-year veteran of the department, Hopkins begins working this week in Centreville as the county’s emergency services coordinator. Hopkins will work under Jim Barnes, who is retiring from the position next month. As coordinator of emergency services, …

125 people were left homeless early Monday morning following a fire overnight at a Kalamazoo apartment building. The blaze broke out just before 11:30 Sunday night at the seven-story Northwind Hilltop Apartments. Fire officials say a third floor apartment was fully engulfed in flames when the first units arrived on the scene. The fire then spread to the apartment above …

Quick response by the Fabius-Park Township and Three Rivers fire departments limited the extent of fire-related damage at a residence in Fabius Township early Wednesday. The departments were summoned to the 56000 block of Seven Hills Road around 2 a.m. to a report of a blaze started in the mantel of a fireplace. The mantel was cut into sections by …

Two people were severely burned Wednesday morning in a fire at a home near Kalamazoo. The Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office says crews responded to the house in Schoolcraft shortly after 2 a.m. The house was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, but they went in, pulling the two severely burned residents out. The victims were rushed to Bronson Hospital where doctors are treating them for burns …

A drunken driver, whose blood-alcohol content was 0.36 percent, was arrested following a Friday night accident in Sturgis. Police and fire personnel were called at 6:40 p.m. to the scene of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Centerville Road and Wenzel Street. Details about the incident and how it occurred were not available in a department media release. The …

A longtime member of the Sturgis Fire Department has accepted the post of St. Joseph County Emergency Services coordinator. Scott Hopkins, assistant chief for the Sturgis department, will replace Jim Barnes, who is retiring from the Centreville-based post next month. Hopkins will hire on in two weeks and work with Barnes during the impending transition period. As coordinator of emergency …

Four county firefighters from three different agencies were recognized during a ceremony in Colon last week. The St. Joseph County Fireman’s Association honored Burr Oak firefighter Charles Ankney and Centreville firefighter Roger Rumsey and their 51 years of service. Recognized for 54 years of firefighter service for the Mendon Fire Department were Sharon “Bookie” Buchner and Loyd Hart. State Rep. …

Branch County authorities late Thursday afternoon located a 10-year-old Coldwater-area boy who had been reported missing since earlier in the day. Limited details were available about the discovery of Chance Miller, who authorities described as having diminished capacity. Officials did note, however, that he is safe. He was reported missing after leaving his bus stop at 7:30 a.m. near Miller …