Fatal Fire On M139
Date and Time of Incident: July 28, 2018 at 01:45hrs.
Type of Incident: Fatal Fire
Location of Incident: 2699 S. M139 HWY. Township of Sodus.
Agecies Involved:
1: Berrien County Sheriff's Office
2: Michigan State Police
3: St. Joseph Department of Public Safety
4: Benton Township Police Department
5: Benton Township Department of Public Safety
6: Sodus Township Fire Department
7: Benton Township Fire Department
8: Royalton Township Fire Department
9: Lincoln Township Fire Department
10: Medic 1 Ambulance Service
11: Pride Care Ambulance Service
12: SMACAS Ambulance Service
13: American Red Cross
Narrative: On July 28, 2018 at 01:45HRS, the Berrien County Central Dispatch
Office received a 911 call of a fire at the Cosmo Extended Living Hotel, located at
2699 S. M-139 Hwy. in the Township of Sodus.
When the first responders arrived at the scene, they discovered that the hotel
was filled with flames and smoke.
The first responders began to evacuate the building and the fire was
extinguished by the fire department personnel.
Several individuals were transported to Lakeland Medical Center and six
individuals are confirmed to be deceased as a result of this fire.
The victims were a 26 year old female and five children, ages two thru ten.
The victims were from one family.
At the time of this tragic incident, twenty-seven rooms were occupied at this
extended living facility.
The American Red Cross is working on finding shelter for the displaced
individuals.
The Michigan State Police Fire Marshall Division is assisting the Berrien County
Sheriff’s Office in determining the “Cause and Origin” of this fire.
The Investigation is on-going and further information will be provided as it’s
received.
Preliminary estimates show that approximately 90 percent of the rooms and this
location sustained smoke, fire, or water damage.
UPDATE:
The Berrien County Sheriff's Office extends thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of the victims of this tragic incident.
The victims have been identified as:
Kiarre Samuel, age 26
Marquise Thompson, age 10
Gerome Randolph, age 7
Samuel Curtis, age 5
Savod Curtis, age 4
Avery Curtist, age 2.
Four other individuals and four responders were treated and released at Lakeland Medical Center for smoke inhalation.
SECOND UPDATE:
The victim identified as Kiarre Samuel is actual Kiarre Curtis, age 26.
Her husband (Samuel Curtis, age 36 and one of her children, age 1) were able to escape from the motel at the time of this tragx incident.
They were two of the individuals treated and released at Lakeland Medical Center for possible smoke inhalation.
The investication into the "cause of origin" is on-going. Further information will be released as it is obtained.
