A local woman is dead after being rescued from a burning house on Monday.
The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety has updated its previous report on a house fire in Benton Harbor on Monday. Read the statement from Benton Harbor Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis below:
“We have been advised the victim from 854 LaSalle died at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo and she’s being moved to the medical examiner’s office there,” said Benton Harbor Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis, in an updated release. “The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The State of Michigan Fire Marshal will be in town tomorrow to assist in the investigation.”
Additionally, the original release stated that the victim was in her 50s. Her birthday would have been tomorrow Oct. 25. She would have been 67.
“Our prayers go out to the family in this difficult time,” McGinnis said.
Details from the previous release are below:
The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety reported that at about 1:50 p.m. Monday, they responded to a report of a house fire at 854 LaSalle on the city’s north side. Authorities arrived on scene to find a small one-story house with thick smoke coming from the eaves of the home.
While performing a scene size up, the incident commander located a male in the rear of the home trying to make entry through the back door, however he was overcome by smoke. He advised that his wife was still inside.
“Units began an aggressive search for the victim inside the home while simultaneously attacking the fire with a second team,” said McGinnis, via a press release. “Search and rescue quickly located a female victim and extricated her from the burning structure. The BHDPS search and rescue team began life-saving efforts immediately upon removing the victim from inside.”
Medic 1 Ambulance arrived about a short time later and took over the life saving efforts. The victim ultimately regained a pulse and was immediately transported to Corewell Health in St. Joseph, according to the report. The victim was later airlifted to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo for further treatment.
BHDPS thanked Medic 1, Benton Township Fire Department and St. Joseph DPS for their aid response and contribution.
