Neighbor’s warning helps others escape Forsyth Township duplex fire

A neighbor’s warning may have helped saved the lives of residents in a duplex fire in Forsyth Township this morning.

Forsyth Township Fire Chief Don Hutchens says a person living next door to 481 and 483 East M–35 notified one of the residents that the building was on fire. Firefighters were called in shortly after, at around 11 a.m.

One of the residents had to be taken to Marquette General Hospital for smoke inhalation. No one else was hurt, but one dog did perish in the fire.

Forsyth Township firefighters were able to rescue two other dogs from one of the units. The building sustained heavy smoke and water damage as a result of the fire, which is still under investigation.

The fire reportedly started in the front of the building, near the front door of one of the duplex units. Investigators believe the cause is electrical in nature.

A total of thirty firefighters from Forsyth Township, Sands Township, Skandia and West Branch responded to put out the blaze, which took five hours to extinguish.