Fire at a Dowagiac apartment complex

CASS COUNTY, Mich. -- The City of Dowagiac reported that Dowagiac Fire and Wayne Township Fire Departments were dispatched to a structure fire at the Parkside Apartments at 7:38 p.m. on Saturday.

The initial report was for apartment 12 of the complex, whose occupants were not home, and apartment 11, whose occupants had already exited by the time emergency personnel had arrived.

Fire crews declared the fire was under control at 7:58 p.m., limiting fire damage to just the kitchen area of apartment 12.

Smoke damage also resulted from the fire for apartments 11 and 12.

The occupant of apartment 12 told investigators that she and her children left the apartment about an hour before the initial reports of the fire were made.

Red Cross is assisting the family of apartment 12 who do not have renter insurance.

The city says the fire is currently being labeled as accidental as an investigation continues to be conducted.