Firefighter’s house destroyed by fire.

Firefighter’s house destroyed by fire.

#MasonCountyNews.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

HAMLIN TOWNSHIP — Denny and Lori Vandervest were lying in bed Friday night about 8:30 p.m. when they heard a noise out in their garage. Denny initially thought it was his stepson coming home, he said. A few minutes later, Lori told him she could smell smoke.

When he went out to investigate, a car and much of the attached garage was on fire.

“I had just been outside about an hour earlier to fill the wood stove,” Denny said as he watched his house burn.

“It’s a different perspective when it’s your own house,” Dennis, who is a Hamlin Township Fire Department captain, said.

Hamlin Township Fire Chief Tom Johnson said the first unit on the scene at 3363 N. Lincoln Road reported the garage on fire. “There were flames coming out of the eaves of the garage,” Johnson said. “When the second truck arrived the whole house had become engulfed.

“It’s really tough when it’s one of your own firefighters,” Johnson said. 

Vandervest said he and Lori and their two dogs were able to get out of the house safely. The 1,200 square foot house and 950 square foot garage were insured but were a total loss.

Responding to the fire were Hamlin Township Fire Department, Pere Marquette Township Fire Department, Ludington Fire Department, Riverton Township Fire Department, Scottville Fire Department, Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Life EMS, and the American Red Cross.

Firefighters were still on scene as of 10 p.m. with most of the fire extinguished.