Home 'literally total loss' after fire

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - Several college students are without their home after a two-story house in Kalamazoo was completely destroyed by fire Saturday.

Around 1 p.m., Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers were called out to the 800 block of Oak Street on a structure fire. When they arrived, they found a house with flames and smoke coming out of the building.

Several people were in the house before the fire started. Officers say students from area colleges were living at the house; everyone got out before the house was consumed by smoke and fire.

KDPS Assistant Chief Brian Uridge tells 24 Hour News 8 that the house is "literally a total loss". Uridge says flames moved quickly from one floor to another in the old house and that made fighting the fire difficult.

Officers were able to keep the fire from spreading to other houses in the area.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and investigators are working to find the cause.