Fire damages apartment in Benton Harbor

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – One apartment was damaged by fire and others suffered from smoke damage after a fire at an apartment complex on Thursday, the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety announced.

Officers were initially dispatched to the River Terrace Apartments for a fire alarm but while en route, the Berrien County 911 Center upgraded the response to a structure fire after getting multiple 911 calls.

Several units arrived on scene to find heavy smoke conditions on the second floor and fire in one apartment.

The fire was under control in 15 minutes and smoke was cleared from the second and third floors in two hours.

The Red Cross and apartment management worked to help tenants displaced by the incident.

According to the investigation, the fire started from the resident falling asleep while smoking.

No one was injured in the incident.

The hallway and adjoining units suffered smoke damage.

One apartment was damaged by fire.