8/13/22 - Eaton Rapids Twp house fire, 8591 Columbia Hwy

At 10 PM on Saturday, August 13, 2022, the Eaton Rapids Twp, Eaton Rapids, Windsor Twp, and Hamlin Twp fire departments were dispatched to a house fire reported by a passerby at 8591 Columbia Hwy. First arriving command found a 2 story, wood frame farmhouse heavily involved in fire. A defensive attack was initiated. Additional mutual aid was requested from the Benton Twp and Charlotte fire departments. Command elevated the mutual aid request to a 3rd alarm, primarily for tanker support. This activated the north strike team of the Eaton Co Tanker Task Force which sent mutual aid engines and tankers from 6 more departments. Another tanker was requested via mutual aid from Mason later. Crews attacked the fire from the outside with hand lines and deployed a Squrt from Charlotte when they arrived. Due to the extensive structural damage caused by the fire, excavation equipment was called in to tear down the home in order to complete extinguishment. There were no occupants in the home at the time of the fire. A total of 13 fire departments responded to this fire.