Man dies Tuesday in Van Buren County fire

Wed, Jul 1, 2009

COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP (AP) — Authorities said a fire broke out in a Van Buren County house with four people inside, killing one of them and sending the other three to the hospital.

The fire started early Tuesday in Columbia Township, about 45 miles south-southwest of Grand Rapids.

State Police said a woman noticed smoke and was able to escape with two others. One person then went back inside to try to rescue a man still there but was overcome by smoke.

Firefighters extinguished the fire and found a body inside.

The man's identity and the cause of the fire haven't been released.