Fire/Rescue

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a plan to issue paychecks to county employees by direct deposit or through a payroll debit card only The measure will be implemented with the April 12 payday for the two-week pay period ending April 8. Finance director Joni Smith said no longer hand-delivering checks to employees will save staff in …

Three children died after they were trapped in an upstairs apartment when a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Kalamazoo Monday afternoon.  Dispatchers say that the fire was fully involved when Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers responded to the Interfaith Apartments on the city’s north side.  The Kalamazoo Gazette reports 3-year-old twins Tevin and Tinya Williams and …

The Three Rivers Fire Department was called last week to a second-floor residence in the downtown district, where a passer-by called the 911 dispatch center to report seeing smoke inside the residence. Personnel were dispatched to 2 N. Main St. at 2:25 am Friday, as the caller also reported hearing smoke detectors going off. With assistance from the Three Rivers …

Three area agencies were successful in pulling a man from Pleasant Lake after he fell through ice Thursday morning. The Three Rivers Fire Department, Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department and the St. Joseph County Dive Rescue team were dispatched shortly before 8 a.m. to the Fabius Township location. Two lake residents used an extension ladder and rope to try saving the …

A fire was quickly contained early Wednesday at a residence in Lockport Township. Firefighters were called at 12:30 a.m. to the 60000 block of Lutz Road, where fire personnel reported the residence filling with smoke. A wood- burning stove in the basement was found to be the source of the fire. Damage to the residence was limited, firefighters said.

Members of the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department helped quickly extinguish a fire Tuesday morning at a Lockport Township business. Department officials said the early morning blaze was at K&D Body Shop, in the 57000 block of Haines Road. The fire started in and was limited to a bay area where cars are serviced. Firefighters said damage was minimal.

A South Bend man, who is suspected of passing out while driving, is hospitalized following a one-car incident around 1 a.m. Saturday in Florence Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Francisco Perez, 24, was driving south on Constantine Road when he passed out behind the wheel and his vehicle collided with a tree near the intersection of Roys …

Two promotions and a new full-time employee have been announced by the Sturgis Fire Department. Deputy Chief Andy Strudwick said Cody Cripe and Andy Kiss were promoted to the rank of captain. Meanwhile, Joel Hohn was brought on board as a full-time employee after serving in a part-time capacity since 2007. Cripe joined the department in 2003, while Kiss has …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department and the Centreville Fire Department are hosting a Community Emergency Response Team class. The three-part program starts Jan. 19 and continues Feb. 2 and 16 at the sheriff’s department. It will run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and lunch will be provided. The Community Emergency Response Team program educates people about disaster preparedness for …

A Three Rivers woman and her two children were treated for injuries after they were involved in a one-car accident over the weekend. Cass County officials said Ginnie Wallace, 40, was driving east on U.S. 12 in Porter Township when she fell asleep and drove into a generator and pole, according to a department media release. The incident occurred at …