MANISTEE -- A Manistee County family lost most of their belongings after a fire, believed to have started by a space heater, destroyed their apartment.
Fire crews were called to the apartment building at 430 Water St. in Manistee Sunday at 8:30 p.m.. There are four apartments on the second floor and retail space on the River Street side in the front of the building.
Firefighters saw smoke from the building when they arrived and called for help from Filer Township crews.
Firefighters quickly isolated the fire and knocked it down which prevented it from spreading to other parts of the building. Firefighters from Filer Township arrived on scene and quickly rendered the necessary assistance that enabled this building to be saved. Working together they removed portions of the ceiling and floor in order to extinguish all hot spots. Through their efforts the fire was contained in a single apartment.
All of the people inside the building were able to escape but firefighters rescued a dog from inside the apartment where the the fire started. Two cats died from smoke inhalation.
Investigators say this fire had the potential to be a huge loss if it were not for the quick actions of the resident who called it in and helped in the evacuation effort.
The American Red Cross is working with the family to find them a new place to live.
