BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – An early morning house fire on New Year’s Day killed one woman and hospitalized the woman’s son, according to family.
It happened on the first block of First Street near Gilbert Street in Battle Creek.
As smoke wafted through the upstairs bedroom window, Bernice Taylor, 87, did not make it out of the fire, family members told FOX 17. Battle Creek Fire Department crews found Taylor in the upstairs bedroom just after 5:15 a.m. Thursday.
Taylor would have been 88 years old later this month. "It's a great loss, she was a good woman,” said Sherri Brown, a long-time family friend. “She was a very good woman."
One of Taylor’s sons was burned by the fire. He is hospitalized in Kalamazoo and recovering. Crews said they rescued him from the top of the stairs inside the burning house.
Battle Creek Fire Inspector Quincy Jones said Taylor’s home is a total loss.
"Of course, we are conducting business in regards to putting out the fire and investigating, but our condolences and empathy goes out to the family,” said Jones.
It’s a loss beyond value for the tight-knit family and neighbors, who continued to stop in front of Taylor’s home in disbelief Thursday. They said this was the home that brought the neighborhood together for at least the last 40 years.
"She took in everybody,” said Brown. “She was such a nice lady. She was my two nephews' grandmother. Such a tragedy."
After the fire, the family dog sat outside and waited, looking for his loved one who will not be returning home.
"She's resting now,” Brown said.
Quincy said the investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing.
