5 departments battle apartment fire

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

SHELBY — Five fire departments battled a fire at a four-unit apartment building Monday evening, Nov. 23, at 80 N. Michigan Avenue. No one was injured, according to emergency personnel on scene.

The fire was dispatched at approximately 6:45 p.m., and firefighters remained on scene at 8:15 p.m. The fire was contained, and crews remained on scene until all “hot spots” are extinguished. Firefighters from Shelby, Hart, Grant Township, Ferry and Pentwater responded.

One downstairs apartment of the the 113-year-old house converted into an apartment building appeared to be destroyed in the blaze. The unit was once a carport but then converted into an apartment, said building resident Brent Rogers, who lives in a different unit. Rogers said he came home when fire personnel were on scene and was in shock that the apartment building where he lives was on fire.

His apartment contains a several items with sentimental value, such as his comic book collection and several family antiques, he said. “Pretty much everything I own is in there,” Rogers said.

Rogers said he has lived in the apartment complex for two years, and the building was built in 1902. “I’ve lived on this block my whole life,” he said.

The owner of the building is from Alma, he said, but he didn’t know his name. Fire personnel did not immediately know whether the building is insured. The apartment building contained three downstairs units and one upstairs unit, Rogers said.

Located in the center of town, the fire scene drew several onlookers.

Shelby Police Department, the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office and Oceana County EMS also assisted. The Red Cross was called in to assist the residents with immediate needs.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but firefighters on scene said the Oceana County Fire Investigation Team will likely be called in to determine the origin.