Part of the former Morton Elementary School building in Benton Harbor has been condemned following a fire on Sunday.
The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety says it was sent to the building at 267 Hull Street around 2:30 p.m. on a report of smoke coming from its north side.
Firefighters found heavy smoke and fire in a classroom that had spread to the roof. Most of the fire was out within about 40 minutes, but the roof had collapsed. As a result, the northwest portion of the building has been condemned for safety reasons.
The cause of the fire isn’t yet known, but public safety says there are indications it was intentionally set.
Anyone with information on the blaze is asked to contact the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety.
Assisting at the scene were the St. Joseph Township Fire Department, the Benton Township Fire Department, the St. Joseph Department of Public Safety, and the Lincoln Township Fire Department.
Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Fire Fighters, St. Joseph, Michigan IAFF Local 1670.
