GLADSTONE - A Gladstone man, whose home caught fire Wednesday afternoon, was transported to OSF St. Francis Hospital where he was treated for smoke inhalation and released later that day.
Larry Branstrom was transported by Rampart Ambulance to the hospital after he breathed in smoke from his burning home Wednesday afternoon. His wife was not home at the time of the fire.
According to Marsha Johnson, a next door neighbor, Branstrom came to her house to call 9-1-1 after he saw smoke coming from his home at 5960 Rivers 22nd Road. He was outside working on his truck in the backyard when he noticed smoke coming from the roof, Johnson said.
When Branstrom went back to his house, he was commenting that he didn't know where the fire was in the house and went to open the door, Johnson said.
"A big, black billow of smoke came on him," Johnson said, recalling she was concerned he may have been looking for someone else in the home. Branstrom told her no one else was inside and he backed away from the burning home, she said.
When firefighters from Escanaba Township arrived at the scene, they immediately attended to Branstrom, said Assistant Fire Chief Ken Brunette. Emergency medical personnel arrived shortly after and brought him to the hospital.
The structure was fully engulfed upon the arrival of firefighters who put out the blaze, Brunette said. The fire call came in at 12:20 p.m. and firefighters remained at the scene, putting out hot spots and mopping up, until around 3:30 p.m., he said.
"It was a total loss including the contents," Brunette said. A fire marshal was notified to help in determining the cause of the blaze, he added. Brunette did not know if the home was insured.
Before firefighters arrived, Johnson said she called a neighbor to inform others in the area of the fire, in case the flames got out of control. Evergreen and oak trees separated Branstrom's home from Johnson's house. Branstrom's dog was outside with him at the time of the fire, and was taken care of by a neighbor, Johnson said.
Assisting Escanaba Township firefighters at the scene were Brampton Township volunteer firefighters, a Gladstone Public Safety officer, and emergency medical personnel from Masonville Township. A tanker from Wells Township was also brought to the scene.
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Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, jlancour@dailypress.net
