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Fire rips through Shelby-area home.
#OceanaCountyPress #Shelby
By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.
BENONA TOWNSHIP — A house on 58th Avenue, just north of Shelby Road, received major damage from a fire Friday evening, Feb. 24.
No one was home at the time the fire ignited, which was approximately 6:30 p.m., and it is currently unknown how the fire started.
The house, which is insured, is owned by Mark and Michelle Pippin, said Mark’s mother, Dianna Carrier, who was at the scene. The couple was in Traverse City, Carrier said. There were no pets inside the home at 1789 S. 58th Avenue, she said.
Charles Shefke, Sr. and Emily Dean happened to be driving past the house and noticed a small fire that appeared to be outside the house in 
a bush, said Shefke. Then, they observed a fire inside the house. They started banging on the doors and windows and realized no one was home, Dean said. The house was locked, Dean said. They quickly called 911. The pair happened to be visiting someone who lives on 58th Avenue and were driving by when they noticed the fire.
Shelby-Benona Assistant Fire Chief Mark Burmeister said it appeared 
that approximately 75 precent of the home was destroyed. “We saved the (attached) garage,” Burmeister said, “and we pulled an expensive motorcycle out of the garage.”
Heavy smoke poured out of the house while firefighters battled the blaze.
In addition to the Shelby-Benona Fire Department, firefighters from Hart, Ferry Township and Grant Township responded to the scene. 
Oceana County EMS, the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, the Shelby Police Department and the Michigan State Police were also called to the scene.
Next door neighbor Edwardo Flores said the couple had recently redecorated the house.
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