Tragedy struck Benton Harbor as flames ravaged the now-defunct Morton Elementary School, with officials suspecting foul play in the fire that led to a perilous roof collapse on Sunday afternoon. According to WZZM13, the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, aided by neighboring fire departments, received the alert around 2:50 p.m., arriving to encounter substantial smoke billowing from the school's northern perimeter.
The blaze took hold in a classroom, ascending to the roof which could not bear the assault of heat and flames and ultimately gave way, as firefighters transitioned to an external offensive using aerial streams and foam to douse the inferno, throwing their weight against the searing waves that swallowed the structure. In a statement obtained by FOX 17, officials proclaimed the northwest side of the building condemned, necessitating demolition for the public's safeguarding.
As the ruins smoldered, suspicion loomed with BHDPS suggesting the possibility of arson behind the inferno's origin, an angle still under thorough investigation. "While the fire remains under investigation, there are indications that it was intentionally set," BHDPS relayed in a report by WNDU. The agencies have made an appeal for information, urging anyone with insights to step forward and contact the BHDPS at 269-443-1027.
The litany of units responding to this emergency spanned multiple townships, showcasing a collaboration among the Benton Charter Township Fire Department, St. Joseph DPS, the Lincoln Township Fire Department, the Benton Township Police Department, and medical first responders all converged with a common purpose.
