BATAVIA TOWNSHIP, MI (WTVB) – A Batavia Township home was destroyed in a fire which broke out late Wednesday night.
Bronson Fire Chief Scott Wilber says his department was notified of the fire at 540 Arbogast Road at 11:41 p.m. by Branch County Central Dispatch.
Crews arrived to find a two-story farmhouse with flames coming out the windows on both levels and the enclosed porch engulfed in flames.
The fire had already been pushed through part of the house thanks to 25 miles per hour winds.
The occupant, who was home at the time the fire broke out and was alerted of the fire by a smoke detector, escaped without injury.
Wilber said, “Fires like this show that smoke detectors do save lives. The outcome of this incident could have been much more tragic had smoke detectors not woke the occupant.”
He added it’s believed a wood burner started the fire.
Sherwood, Union City, and Colon provided mutual aid tankers to supply additional water.
The house had a value of $125,000.
The owner of the house had insurance on the property, but the renter did not have insurance on the contents.
Crews were on scene for five hours. There were no injuries. About 50,000 gallons of water were used to put out the fire.
Bronson firefighters were called back to the scene when the fire rekindled just after 10:00 a.m.. They were there until 11:18 a.m..
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