Amish-owned ag business destroyed by fire

– Courtesy of Hesperia Area Fire Department

Amish-owned ag business destroyed by fire

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP — Eight area fire departments battled a fire at Cushman Creek Supply Seed & Fertilizer in the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 3.

The Amish-owned business located at 9276 E. Skeels Rd. is a total loss, said Cpt. Kelvin Roberson of the Hesperia Area Fire Department.

No one was injured in the blaze, said Roberson. Fire departments were dispatched to the commercial structure fire around 3 a.m.

On arrival, firefighters found a heavily-involved fire. They were able to extinguish the blaze without any damage to an adjacent house and barn, however.  

“It was completely ablaze by the time we got there,” said Roberson. “It’s at the southern border of our jurisdiction.” The site is on the Oceana-Muskegon counties line.

The approximate 7,200-square-feet pole barn and its contents were destroyed. “The cause is unknown at this time,” said Roberson. An estimated monetary value has not yet been determined. 

The building, located in an Amish community near Fremont, was self-insured through Amish Aid, said Roberson. “They don’t have private insurance, but the community itself insures and rebuilds it.”

Firefighters were on scene until 10:30 a.m., said the captain. Approximately 120,000 gallons of water were used to extinguish the massive fire.

Hesperia firefighters were assisted by fire departments in Oceana, Muskegon and Newaygo counties including: Fremont, Holton Township, Ferry Township, Blue Lake, Shelby-Benona, Walkerville and Grant Township.

They were also assisted by Vandenzandy Excavating, Life EMS, Mason-Oceana 911, Newaygo 911, Oceana County Sheriff’s Office and Oceana County Emergency Management.

Just a month ago, tragedy struck the same Amish community when a 16-year-old girl riding her bike on Skeels Road was killed after being hit by a car. Related story here: https://oceanacountypress.com/2024/01/08/somber-scene-at-…-where-teen-died/

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