A test of the scene did not reveal the presence of a fire accelerant or any indication that illegal narcotics were being manufactured at the hotel at the time.
BERRIEN COUNTY, MI — A motel fire in the Benton Harbor area that killed six people Saturday was likely an accident, according to early findings in the police investigation.
The fire happened around 1:45 a.m. Friday, July 28, in a room on the second floor of the Cosmo Extended Living motel. Police had previously named the victims as Kiarre Curtis, 26; Marquise Thompson, 10; Gerome Randolph, 7; Samuel Curtis, 5; Savod Curtis, 4; and Avery Curtis, 2.
Police identify family killed in Southwest Michigan motel fire
Kiarre Curtis’ husband, Samuel, 36, and her one-year-old child were able to escape from the motel during what police are calling a tragic incident, according to a news release from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident remains under investigation, but early findings from the Michigan State Police’s fire marshal division and the U. S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms indicate that the fire may have been an accident.
Both teams also have determined that the fire occurred in a room on the first floor, and not in the victims’ second-floor dwelling, according to the release.
A test of the scene at 2699 M-139 Highway did not reveal the presence of a fire accelerant nor any indication that illegal narcotics were being manufactured at the hotel at the time of the fire, the release said.
Forensic tests are to be conducted on samples taken from the room on the first floor where investigators believe the fire began.
‘Just a loving and caring family’ woman says of six killed in motel fire
Berrien County Sheriff Chief Deputy Robert Boyce said Friday that the motel had smoke detectors and a sprinkler system, but said investigators were still working to determine if they were functional at the time of the fire.
The county sheriff’s office is contracting with a Grand Rapids-based security company to test the motel’s fire alarm and smoke detector, according to the news release. That investigation is ongoing.
Autopsies on the six victims are scheduled to take place Sunday to determine the cause of death, which is believed to be smoke inhalation, deputies said.
Four first responders and several residents sustained smoke inhalation during the fire. At least two of those individuals were treated and released from Lakeland Medical Center as of 3 p.m. Saturday.
Deputies said the sheriff’s office will release more information once it becomes available.
