Fast action to flames licking from the windows on both the first and second story of an apartment building in Dowagiac saved neighbors from a potentially more catastrophic fire back on Saturday afternoon. 
Deputy Fire Chief Robert Smith of the Dowagiac Fire Department says his team was dispatched to the report of a fire at 501 Vineyard in Apartment 106. The Wayne Township Fire Department was also called out to the scene around 2:15 in the afternoon, and arrived to flames visible on both levels of the two story apartment. Dowagiac Police quickly evacuated all other tenants from the entire building and firefighters went on the attack.
Smith says fire units arrived within 4 minutes and worked quickly to contain the fire to the initial apartment. An exterior attack knocked down the bulk of the fire and then interior crews were utilized to extinguish the remaining fire during overhaul operations. The apartment was gutted by the fire damage and the adjoining apartment suffered some water damage but no observable fire damage. SEMCO Gas and American Electric Power disconnected utilities to the affected apartments in the complex.
Indian Lake Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene and Pokagon Volunteer Fire Department was requested to standby in Dowagiac for any additional calls.
The tenant whose unit was destroyed was in the process of relocating out of the area and most of the furniture had already been moved. She told authorities that she was in the basement packing items when she heard a noise and realized the smoke alarms were going off. She exited the basement and noted fire in the kitchen and living room areas. She immediately left the apartment and called for help. She was checked at the scene by Pride Care EMS for minor smoke inhalation but did not seek any further treatment.
The cause of the fire has been investigated by the department in cooperation with the apartment complex independent insurance investigator. The cause was traced to a faulty electrical outlet in the living room area. Exact dollar amount of loss is not yet available.
Other than the minor smoke inhalation of the resident no other injuries were reported during the fire. Fire teams cleared the scene roughly two hours later around 4:30pm.
