House fire in Benton Harbor leaves one person dead

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. – One person has died following a house fire in Benton Harbor Monday evening, the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety reported.

At 6:49 p.m., the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety was called to a house fire in the 1100 block of McAlister Ave. in Benton Harbor.

Upon arriving, safety officers saw heavy smoke coming from the downstairs apartment and heavy flames coming from the rear of the building.

Bystanders told firefighters there was at least one person in the downstairs apartment, reports said.

Both BHDPS and the St. Joseph Department of Public Safety made their way into the lower apartment and found a woman inside.

The woman was taken to a nearby hospital where she later died from her injuries at 9:41 p.m., reports said.

The Michigan State Police Fire Investigators and the BHDPS Fire Marshal are investigating the cause of the fire.