Owner escapes fire, rescues pets.

Owner escapes fire, rescues pets.

#OceanaCountyNews #Walkerville

By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

WALKERVILLE — Roland Russell, Jr., said he had just walked in through the back door of his two-story house at 212 W. Michigan Street when he heard a “boom” and saw flames Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 26.

Russell said he grabbed his dogs and a pet bird; ran out of the house; and called 911 at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Walkerville and Crystal Township fire departments, along with Oceana County EMS, responded to the scene. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze in the rainy, cold conditions where there was a light dusting of snow on the ground. Smoke was still smoldering approximately an hour later.

Russell said he had just moved into the house, which is insured, last April.

Walkerville Fire Chief Greg Frick said the home was damaged and may be salvageable, but it was too early to say for sure. He estimated it could be 75 percent damaged. Frick said his department was able to quickly respond, because the home is located just a few blocks away from the fire barn in the village limits.

No one was injured. It was not immediately known what caused the fire.