Fast action by Public Safety Officers and firefighters saved a major apartment complex in Benton Harbor on Labor Day when smoke was found billowing from a window on the 5th floor of the building in late morning.
With the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety right across the street, responding Public Safety Officers confronted with heat and smoke on the 5th floor of the Harbor Towers complex at 250 E. Wall Street moved quickly to knock down the blaze, containing it to just the apartment where it started.
The incident, shortly before 11am on Monday, September 7th, resulted in 10 other residents being temporarily displaced due to the smoky fire, which had moderate smoke pouring from the window on the 5th floor. Officers also assisted in evacuating other residents from the complex and treated on resident on site for smoke inhalation when they refused transportation to the hospital.
Deputy Director Michael Phelps from the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety reports that there were no injuries to firefighters or Public Safety Officers on the scene, or any other injuries among the residents.
Benton Harbor was assisted by the Benton Township Fire Department, the St. Joseph Department of Public Safety, Medic 1 Ambulance and the American Red Cross. The Red Cross is assisting the 10 residents that were displaced due to the fire, which remains under investigation.
