Kalamazoo Apartment Fire Displaces Several Residents

A dryer vent appears to be the source of a predawn fire on Washington Avenue in Kalamazoo's Edison Neighborhood that left no one injured.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Accidents

Kalamazoo Apartment Fire Displaces Several Residents

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Is now a good time for you to clean your dryer vent?

A fire at a multi-unit building on Washington Avenue in Kalamazoo's Edison Neighborhood started around 4 a.m. on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, displacing a handful of residents for a couple of hours. No one was hurt.

Why it matters

The incident highlights how dryer vents clogged with lint or obstructions can ignite fires, a risk Kalamazoo residents face at this time of year. Fire crews responding to such calls underscore the importance of routine vent maintenance in multi-unit housing.

The fire is under review with an undetermined cause, and fire officials say it appears to have started in a dryer vent. Investigators have not publicly confirmed a final determination.

The players

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety

The municipal public safety agency responsible for fire response and investigation in the City of Kalamazoo.

Scott Brooks

Kalamazoo's Fire Marshal, who said the fire appears to have started in a dryer vent.

The details

Firefighters tore off part of the building's siding to contain the source and keep the fire from spreading through the insulation. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety says it responds to many chimney fire and furnace-related calls at this time of year.

Tuesday, November 10, 2026, around 4 a.m.: Fire starts at the multi-unit building on Washington Avenue.
Residents displaced for a couple of hours following the fire.

Seasonal Patterns

Kalamazoo fire crews report a rise in chimney fire and furnace-related calls as temperatures fall each autumn. This Edison Neighborhood fire fits that seasonal pattern of heating-season incidents.

Residents of multi-unit buildings should have dryer vents and lint traps cleaned regularly to reduce fire risk. Fire officials point to clogged vents, obstructions, and non-working louvers as common causes of fires during this season.

The takeaway

Cleaning dryer lint traps and vents on a regular schedule is a simple step that can prevent fires like this one. Check that exterior vent flaps open freely when the dryer runs.