By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
GRANT TOWNSHIP — Fire caused severe damage to a historic building at 790 W. Hoague Rd. Monday morning.
The Grant Township Fire Department, Free Soil/Meade Fire Department and Mason County Rural Fire Authority units were initially dispatched to the residence at 11:32 a.m. Dispatch information reported flames coming out of the windows. The house, located on the northeast corner of Hoague and LaSalle roads, is just a few hundred feet from the Grant Township Fire Department station.
Assistance was then requested from Filer Township Fire Department, Hamlin Township Fire Department and the MCRFA’s Fountain Area Fire Department. Hamlin and Fountain units were canceled before arriving on scene.
Initial dispatch information stated that the owner, Brad Melchert, was not home. The information later changed, indicating he may have been home, resulting in an increased EMS and law enforcement response. Dispatch later confirmed Melchert was not home.
Firefighters and law enforcement at the scene said the fire likely started from a propane-powered space heater. The charred remains of the heater and a small propane tank were visible on the ground outside the front door.
From 1901 to 1966, the building housed Grant Township’s LaSalle School. The LaSalle school district was the last rural district to consolidate with Mason County Central School District in 1966. The building later served as Grant Township Hall until a new hall was constructed nearby.
Other emergency units dispatched to the scene included the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, Life EMS and MMR Ambulance.
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