Fire destroys Mears home.

Fire destroys Mears home.

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By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

GOLDEN TOWNSHIP — Fire destroyed a home at 5859 W. 5th St. Friday evening, Feb. 18, said Hart Area Fire Chief Dwight Fuehring.

Firefighters from Hart, Shelby-Benona and Pentwater departments were dispatched to the scene shortly before 6 p.m. The scene was cleared around 8:30 p.m., Fuehring said.

A dog died in the blaze.

A woman and her adult daughter lived in the single-story home, which was not insured. The American Red Cross was contacted to assist. The woman and her daughter were planning to stay with family who live nearby, he said.

“It was pretty much a total loss,” said the chief. “We got a few of the contents out.”

The daughter was the only one home at the time of the blaze, he said, and she suffered from minor smoke inhalation trying to get the dog out of the house.

Strong wind gusts reaching speeds of 50 mph caused the fire to quickly spread.

“The winds were a huge factor,” said Fuehring. “It started up one side and pushed right through the house. We don’t know what caused the fire yet.” Investigators were at the scene Saturday, he said.

Approximately 20 firefighters responded to the scene.

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