Fire destroys shed

– Shelby-Benona Fire Department photo

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

SHELBY — Fire destroyed a shed measuring approximately 10 by 12 feet Sunday afternoon, Sept. 15, on Michigan Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets, said Shelby-Benona Fire Chief Jack White.

“It’s still under investigation, but it appears possibly some people were burning brush in the backyard, and it spread to the neighbor’s shed,” said Chief White. “It was turned over to the fire investigators.” It’s also possible the fire may have been a campfire or recreational fire, he said.

There is presently a county-wide burning ban due to dry conditions, and there is a burning ban in effect in the Village of Shelby at all times. 

“The village has an ordinance that you can’t burn in the village unless the fire chief gives you permission,” said White. “I’ve only done that one time in 18 years.”

“It was fully involved,” said the chief. “We saw the column of smoke on the way, and one of the guys called on the radio and said, ‘We have a big column of black smoke.’” It was originally called in as a barn fire. “It was a total loss including whatever was in it.”

No one was injured, and firefighters extinguished the fire quickly.

“When we go on scene, they put a 10-minute timer on us so they notify us every 10 minutes, and we had the fire out before the first 10-minute timer hit.”

Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to nearby structures. However, a tree was scorched from the blaze, said the chief.

The Shelby-Benona department was assisted by Hart Area Fire Department, Grant Township Township Fire Department, Life EMS and Mason-Oceana 911.

“As a reminder, always check for appropriate burning conditions, and requirements before lighting any outdoor fire and NEVER leave a fire unattended,” states a post on the Shelby-Benona Fire Department’s Facebook page.

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