Fire/Rescue

A lightning strike is believed to have caused a fire at the Bentwater Apartments in Three Rivers Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters arrived shortly before 2 p.m. to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof of building 228. After Three Rivers police conducted an evacuation of the building, firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze. Flames were contained to …

An extension cord is believed to have started a fire this week at a residence in Sturgis. According to the Sturgis Fire Department, the blaze was reported at 7:50 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of West Congress Street. Crews first to arrive noticed smoke from the upper level of the two-story residence. The fire was limited to a closet …

An autopsy was performed Thursday on the victim of a house fire in Cass County’s Calvin Township. Sheriff Capt. Lyndon Parrish said results showed the victim found inside the residence in the 17000 block of Chain Lake Street died from injuries sustained in that fire. Foul play is not suspected in the death. The cause of the fire has been ruled …

An investigation into the source of a fire at a single-family residence over the weekend in Fabius Township is underway by state police officials. The blaze was reported at 3:30 a.m. Sunday in the 15000 block of Gleason Road. The fire was centered in the living room area of the residence, firefighters said. Two adults and their pets were able …

A 9-year-old Sturgis boy was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after he was struck by a car last weekend in Constantine Township. A helicopter trying to fly the youth to a Kalamazoo hospital, however, resulted in damage to the AirCare ambulance. Constantine fire officials said the incident occurred around 10 a.m. Sunday in the 25000 block of Riverside Drive. Investigators said …

A faulty extension cord is believed to have been responsible for starting a fire last weekend in Sturgis. Sturgis fire officials said the blaze was reported at 9:50 p.m. Saturday in the 300 block of South Monroe Street. Upon arrival, firefighters noticed smoke emitting from two second-floor bedrooms. The victims told firefighters they attempted to extinguish the fire on their …

A fire that damaged a home in Mottville is being called suspicious by local authorities. Firefighters were dispatch to 69049 Thomas St. around 3 p.m. Tuesday, and quickly brought the blaze under control. Neighbors said the ranch style home had been condemned and that squatters had been living there until last week. They also said the floors were coming apart …

The Three Rivers Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire shortly before 2am Friday morning on Carman Drive east of the city. The only occupant of the home escaped without injury. The fire was contained to the basement, although the entire building sustained extensive smoke damage. The state fire marshal has been requested to assist in the investigation.

A person considered by authorities to be suicidal was found after a rigorous search in Cass County Wednesday morning and afternoon. Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said his office was advised around 7:30 in the morning of a missing suicidal subject in the 65000 block of North Peninsula Drive in Porter Township. Deputies were made aware that the subject had taken a …

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 …