Fire damages two homes as smoke fills neighborhood

Updated March 20, 2018 at 9:56 PM; Posted March 20, 2018 at 9:43 PM

By John Tunison

jtunison@mlive.com

KALAMAZOO, MI -- The heat and flames from a house fire on Princeton Avenue caught a neighboring, condemned house on fire as well, authorities said.

There were no reports of injuries.

Firefighters responded at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 to the the area of Princeton Avenue and Drexler Place and found heavy flames with one house.

The bulk of the fire was in the front of the house. Witnesses told dispatchers it may have started on a porch. Residents were able to safely evacuate.

Heavy smoke poured from the first house to catch fire.

Firefighters worked for about two hours to bring the two fires under control.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

If Kalamazoo were to convert back to a traditional model of separate police and fire departments they could save $7,893,878 annually in personnel costs alone..........

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