Fire Under Investigation of Historic House in Kalamazoo

A fire in Kalamazoo has injured one person and a historical home has been destroyed.

According to WOOD, a terrible fire broke out Thursday night roughly after 9 p.m. at a historic house that was located on Academy Street east of West Michigan Avenue.

Firefighters worked almost two hours and flames were still blazing from the homes rooftop. The fire was so intense, on lookers could see a red glow through the windows as fire crews sent gallons of water to try and dowse the flames.

The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety did release information regarding one person that was injured and had to be taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Brandon Mion who is a dining room manager for The Park Club of Kalamazoo, mentioned the home was a building that was well known as the Balch Home. The Park Club was instituted back in 1904 and the Balch Home was the original home for the club.

Mion also mentioned that the home used to be in an entirely different location. The home was originally on the corner of Rose and South streets near Bronson Park then moved to its current location on Academy Street. The home was then turned into an apartment complex that house nine units.

Fire investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire.

If you have any information you think will be helpful, please contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 269-488-8911.