Battle Creek House Fire Leads to Suspicious Death Investigation

Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fatal house fire in the northwest side of Battle Creek. Battle Creek Police are calling the fatality "suspicious" at this time and are investigating the death as a possible homicide.

Battle Creek Fire Department was dispatched to a possible structure fire at 12:47 a.m. on January 1 at 250 Graves Avenue. Smoke could be scene billowing from the home. Flames erupted once oxygen reached the fire. Upon arrival, Battle Creek Fire Department's Engines 5 and 2 commenced an aggressive interior attack on the blaze. Engine 4 assigned interior operations support. Truck 6 assigned the rapid intervention team, and Squad 6 was assigned utilities control. Engine 3 was on deck for firefighting support.

Once the fire was extinguished, the scene transitioned into an active crime scene. A man's body was located toward the rear of the home. Battle Creek Police Department was on location for an ongoing criminal investigation and the city's fire marshal was on location to investigate the cause of the fire.

Police are now treating the incident as a possible homicide, with a deceased male located at the scene. No other information is being released until family of the deceased is notified. Anyone with information about this incident should contact Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch at (269)-781-0911.