Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
This log home on Lake Gogebic on M-64 in Marenisco was lost to a suspected chimney fire early Tuesday morning. One resident was home and unhurt after evacuating to call 911. Six fire departments fought the blaze all through Tuesday.
By TOM LAVENTURE
Marenisco - Two Marenisco residents were unhurt when their log home on Lake Gogebic was lost to fire Tuesday morning.
Bruce Mahler, chief of the Marenisco Police Department, said the home in the 9000 block of M-64, belongs to two adult residents who were not hurt in the blaze. Six fire departments responded to fight the blaze through Tuesday evening, according to local residents.
Mahler was the first first responder to reach the home. He would not release the names of the residents as the fire is under investigation. One resident was home and evacuated after a chimney fire spread throughout the structure and called for emergency services at around 8 a.m., he said.
"By the time I arrived the fire was coming through the roof," Mahler said. "The other person living at the home was in Wakefield at the time the fire started and showed up at about the same time I did. No one was hurt."
Marenisco Township Volunteer Fire Department was the first on the scene, followed by the Lake Gogebic Fire Department, he said. Both units operate out of Marenisco.
Other fire departments responding included Bergland, Bessemer Township, city of Wakefield and Presque Isle, Wis. The Marenisco EMS and Beacon Ambulance Service also responded as did the Gogebic County Road Commission.
Tim Holz, chief of the Marenisco Fire Department, could not be reached for information on the fire call-such as how many firefighters and trucks responded and when the scene was cleared. Locals said the firefighters were on scene for around 12 hours.
The Michigan State Police assisted with traffic control. M-64 was closed for approximately four hours to allow fire departments to ferry water tankers back and forth, he said.
The building was a total loss, Mahler said. The assistant fire marshall, who is also an MSP trooper, responded to the scene.
"It appears to be an accidental chimney fire that spread," Mahler said. "There is no sign of foul play."
The residents are both adult, full time residents and have access to a second home, he said. There was no need for immediate assistance from the Red Cross.
The community is close-knit and there may likely be a fundraising event organized at some point, he said.
"For now they have a place to live and the clothes on their back," Mahler said.
