BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — A portion of a vacant elementary school needs to be torn down due to a fire Sunday afternoon that the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety believes may have been intentionally set.
Around 2:50 p.m., BHDPS, the Benton Charter Township Fire Department and St. Joseph DPS were dispatched to a report of a school fire at the vacant Morton Elementary School.
When units arrived they said there was heavy smoke coming from the north side of the building. Units made an interior attack on the fire and found a classroom engulfed in flames with fire extending into the roof.
While the majority of the fire was put out in about 40 minutes, eventually crews said the roof collapsed.
Once this happened, units said they had to transition to fighting the fire from outside the building, using aerial master streams and Class A foam to put the fire out.
Since the roof collapsed, the northwest portion of the school needs to be torn down for safety reasons, according to BHDPS.
BHDPS said while the fire remains under investigation, there are indications that it was intentionally set.
Anyone with any information on the fire should contact BHDPS at (269) 443-1027.
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