Fire destroys Shelby home

OCP photo

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

SHELBY — Fire destroyed a home on Ellis Street near White Street Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 24. No one was injured, but a pet dog died in the blaze.

The occupants of the home safely evacuated when the fire call was dispatched shortly before 3 p.m., said Oceana County Emergency Manager Troy Maloney. 

“It was fully involved upon arrival,” said Maloney. “When Shelby-Benona Fire Department pulled up, there was fire coming out of all the windows and through the roof.“

OCP photo

Firefighters from Shelby-Benona, Hart, Pentwater, Ferry Township and Grant Township battled the blaze. Life EMS and Shelby Police Department assisted.

“They were hampered by an electrical line arching, and they couldn’t get in part of the building — the electrical line was down and burning,” said Maloney. “They couldn’t get around that area, and the gas meter had burned off and gas was burning. So, they had to wait for DTE and Consumers (Energy) to get here and shut those down for them.”

OCP photo

Wind gusts up to 40 mph creating a “feels like temperature” of 9 degrees also posed a challenge for the firefighters.

“They made an aggressive attack on it,” he said. 

It was not immediately known what caused the fire; the owner’s name; or if the house is insured. It is believed that four or five people lived in the home. The Oceana County Victim Services Unit was called to assist, and it was expected that the American Red Cross would also be called to help.

OCP photo

“There were multiple units in the middle of this call when Hart (fire department) got a call for a personal injury accident. Pentwater (fire department) was coming through that area to this fire, so they diverted, and we sent one unit from here. Then, they all came back here.” The car vs. tree crash occurred at VanBuren Road and Oceana Drive in Hart Township, said Maloney. More information on the crash will be provided when it is available.

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This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2026, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.

As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.