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Fire Destroys Former Grass Lake Retirement Home

Posted: 2:13 PM Apr 7, 2012
Reporter: Hannah Saunders

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About eight homeless people had been staying at the former Cedar Knoll retirement home. Neighbors told firefighters they often saw the group setting fire near and even in the building to keep warm.

The building sat vacant and condemned for almost ten years; about as long as the township has been making plans to have it demolished. They're plans that no longer need to be made.

Firefighters are calling it a total loss. When the blaze started early Saturday morning, it spread quickly from where it began to the entire building; so quick that they had to call in back up from other area fire departments.

By the time firefighters reached the scene at about 3:00 a.m. there wasn't any hope in keeping the walls standing.

"Upon arrival, we had a fully-involved 2 1/2 story structure where the main office area was, and then we had the north wing also involved," explained Grass Lake Fire Chief Greg Jones.

The Grass Lake Fire Department quickly ruled out any electric causes. The power had been shut off for years. Which caused them to believe at least one person was at the condemned building when it started.

What is known for sure, is how ever many people were on the property when the place went up in smoke, did not stick around.

Chief Jones told us there are no injuries at this time, but he believes if any one was hurt, they are very likely to never make themselves known.