COLOMA - An early Sunday morning fire left a Bainbridge Township family of 10 homeless, North Berrien Fire Rescue Chief Robert Ruff reported. Nearly three dozen firefighters from four fire departments battled the blaze for about seven hours, but the single-story home was destroyed, Ruff said.
Ruff said there were no injuries. Firefighters were called to the fire at 5101 Territorial Road at 2:31 a.m.
"It was a bad one," Ruff said.
Homeowner Phil Gargano told officials his wife, Lori, woke him up and said the house was on fire. He went downstairs to the drive-in garage under the house, and found the garage on fire. Family members quickly made it outside and called 911, but the Garganos realized their foster daughter, 4, was still inside.
Gargano went back into the house, crawling low to the floor to avoid being overcome by smoke, and found the girl in a hallway and they escaped without injury, Ruff said.
"They were probably just seconds away from probably not getting out of there," Ruff said.
The Garganos have four children and four foster children. The Red Cross is assisting the family, Ruff said.
The initial investigation showed the fire may have been caused by an electrical problem. The fire originated near the electric meter in the garage, Ruff said. Investigators will return to the site to do more investigating today, but Ruff said there's not much left of the house to yield many more clues.
Arson is not suspected, Ruff said.
The house is insured.
Assisting North Berrien firefighters were the Watervliet, Sister Lakes and Keeler Township fire departments.
"There was very little we could do to save the house," Ruff said. "When we arrived on scene, the structure was fully engulfed and unsafe for entry. Thankfully, no one was hurt. That's about the best we can hope for in an incident like this. During our investigation, Mr. Gargano continually stated that they are truly blessed that all of their children made it out safely
