fatal fire

A house fire in St. Joseph County early Monday morning has left two young children dead.

Residents in Three Rivers and surrounding communities are rallying to raise funds, collect clothing and other items for the survivors of a fatal fire that happened in Fabius Township Tuesday.

Kalamazoo Public Safety officers were called to a home, around 2:15 AM, in the 400 block of Wallace Street, to battle a blaze. Upon entering the home, they encountered heavy smoke with fire throughout the structure. The conditions quickly deteriorated and the fire fighters left the home to begin a defensive attack from the exterior.

Battle Creek Police are calling the fatality "suspicious" at this time and are investigating the death as a possible homicide.

It happened at the Cosmo Extended Stay Motel in Berrien County early Saturday morning.