The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a suspected arson case that occurred at approximately 5:26 a.m. Monday morning at a car work and paint shop at 401 Fort St. between Niles and Niles Township.

“We can confirm that it is suspicious and believed to be arson at this point,” said Detective Lt. Greg Sanders, with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities said that no one was injured in the blaze. A cause of the fire cannot be revealed at this time due to the pending investigation. But authorities do know the fire originated in one of the three vehicles parked inside the building, said Niles Township Fire Chief Gary Brovold.

Brovold said it took fire authorities nearly an hour to get the fire under control. 

Firefighters from Niles City and Niles Township responded to the fire. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department was also on scene.

The property damage was estimated to be about $38,000, and the content loss was estimated to be about $50,000. Brovold said the portion of the building that was involved in the fire sustained structural damage and would need to be gutted and reconstructed for repair.

The building also houses two other businesses, but they only sustained minor smoke damage.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is seeking information from witnesses. Sanders said he encouraged anyone who witnessed any strange vehicles or behaviors in the area to call the detective bureau at (260) 983-7141.