By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
Dry weather and sparks started fires over the holiday weekend that sent Harrison firefighters on three different calls, one destroying a garage, home and a truck another destroying five travel trailers and a third burning four acres and a chicken coop.
Sherwood Trail – Long Lake
The first fire, called in at 12:55 pm on Saturday, May 27 burned four acres in a wild fire and burned a chicken coop as well on Sherwood Trail east of Long Lake. No one was injured and the chicken coop was empty.
Harrison Fire Chief Chris Damvelt said they believe an electrical box started the blaze which spread to the 10 by 20-foot building.
Harrison was assisted by Department of Natural Resources personnel. Harrison firefighters cleared the scene in about an hour and a half, but DNR firefighters remained on the scene for a couple of additional hours, extinguishing hot spots.
Claroskee Road – Meredith
Harrison was called out again to Claroskee Road (North County Line) near Meredith at 3:08 pm Sunday, May 28th. A woods fire that burned approximately an acre and a half spread the engulfed five camping trailers. They were destroyed.
Damvelt said one trailer had been occupied but the resident had left to go to the store. He said they believe that fire was also electrical. Harrison was assisted by Firefighters from Gladwin Fire Department and the DNR. They were on the scene for about three and a half hours. No one was injured.
Cathleen Drive – Leota
A Memorial Day blaze on Cathleen Drive near Leota destroyed a home, garage and truck. Damvelt said the fire started when a lawnmower being driven by the property owner backfired and started grass on fire. The man was unable to get the fire out before the fire spread. By the time firefighters arrived on the scene, they found the garage, house and a truck burning. All were destroyed. Firefighters were called to the scene at 1:56 pm. They were assisted by Marion Fire Department and DNR firefighters.
They were on the scene until just after 6 pm, Damvelt said.