– OCP photo
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The cause of a house fire at 3990 W. Baker Road Saturday afternoon April 26 may never be known, said Shelby-Benona Fire Department Chief Jack White.
“We have no cause,” said Chief White. “It’s too far gone to even pinpoint an area of origin.” The house is a total loss.
“They were not home when it struck,” he said of homeowners Casey and Elida Melchor. “There were at least two dogs that perished in the fire.” The couple lived in the home with their two children — a 13-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy.
The fire was the second tragedy to strike the Shelby family. Their youngest child died in a Newaygo County car accident in 2019.
The two-story house was “fully involved” when firefighters arrived at the scene around 3:30 p.m., said Shelby-Benona Fire Department Cpt. Mark Burmeister at the scene.
No humans were injured in the blaze.
The American Red Cross, Oceana County Victim Services and the Crystal Valley Care Fund were contacted to assist the family.
– OCP photo
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