10/17/11 - Meridian Twp double house fire, 5983 & 5995 E. Lake Dr

High winds fanned a blaze that destroyed two homes in Meridian Township on Monday, October 17, 2011. At approximately 12:30 PM, the Meridian Township Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire at 5995 E. Lake Dr. When firefighters arrived they were confronted with a fully involved lakefront home that was extending to two adjacent exposure dwellings. The strong winds from the west with gusts up to 38 MPH were driving off the lake, fueling the fire spread and adding difficulty to the attack which could only be accessed from the downwind side. Mutual aid was requested from the East Lansing Fire Department. Additional aid was later requested from East Lansing as well as from the Lansing Fire Department and a grass rig from the Williamston (NIESA) Fire Department to extinguish many spot fires in the wooded areas downwind that were started from flying embers. Firefighters set up a water curtain to protect the exposure on the "D" side, attacked the "A" side with master streams and stretched handlines around to the lakefront side to control the blaze. The exposure on the "B" side was under construction and also heavily involved. Three hydrants were used for water supply, including one which required a 900 foot stretch of LDH that was relay pumped from East Lansing Engine 11. Williamston sent an engine company to assist their brush rig when spot fires were discovered in a swamp area with no vehicle access several hundred yards and across the road from the burning residences. Both of the involved homes were completely destroyed by the blaze. Initial investigation is looking into activities of the construction crew working at the house under construction for the probable cause of this fire.