Fire ravages Hart apartment building.

Fire ravages Hart apartment building.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

HART — A large three-story house containing apartment units appears to be a total loss following a fire Saturday night, June 18.

Hart Fire Chief Dwight Fuehring said no one was injured in the fire at the corner of East Church and State streets, but approximately 14 people have been displaced from their homes. The American Red Cross is assisting the families.

The old house used to be a funeral home, said Chief Fuehring.

In addition to the Hart Area Fire Department, responding to the scene were firefighters from Shelby-Benona, Pentwater, Ferry Township and Grant Township with its canteen trailer. Both Pentwater and Shelby’s aerial ladder trucks were used to attack the enormous blaze. 

“It’s under investigation,” he said. “They’re going to look at it today (June 20).”

Fire crews were dispatched to the scene around 10 p.m. “We cleared around 3:45 in the morning, and then we got dispatched back out around 6 a.m.” Firefighters returned to the scene when the roof rekindled. 

“We had to go back twice yesterday morning. There were three cats in the basement that we rescued. The residents were there, and they heard cats meowing.”

The house, which was for sale, contained three or four apartments, he said. It was not immediately known if the house was insured, and the homeowner’s full name was not available. 

“One of the apartment renters, I guess he was cooking something or making something and threw it out the window after it started on fire.” The chief said the tenant lived in an upstairs apartment. The fire started in the southwest corner of the roof, he said.

“When the fire started, it was pretty big. So, whatever started it, it spread pretty quickly.”

The chief said he is thankful for the services provided by the Oceana County Auxiliary Unit Rehab Trailer operated by Grant Township Fire Department. The canteen trailer offers coffee, water and other beverages and snacks for the firefighters on scene. It operates completely on donations and volunteers. Call Grant Township Fire Department at 231-894-9773 to donate.

According to Zillow, the historical home’s address is 301 S. State St. It has seven bedrooms and three bathrooms and is 3,800 square feet. The home, built in 1912, was listed for $250,000.

• Photos courtesy of Shelby-Benona Fire Department

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