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Fire damages home in Manistique

MANISTIQUE TOWNSHIP — A Manistique Township house sustained heavy smoke and fire damage after it caught fire when an occupant tried to thaw frozen water pipes with a propane torch Wednesday morning.

Manistique Public Safety and volunteer fire officers were called to a home structure fire at 1316N West Kendall Road in Manistique Township at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

When officers arrived on scene, they determined the blaze started in the crawl space of the single story home.

Authorities said the fire was accidental in nature. The occupant was attempting to thaw frozen water pipes with a propane torch and ignited the insulation under the floor of the home, police said.

Officers immediately knocked out numerous hotspots under the home, but were hampered by building construction and extremely cold weather conditions, which then allowed the fire to travel.

The fire was brought under control by 11 a.m.

Police said the home remains intact, but suffered heavy smoke and fire damage.

The home is owned by Carol Jasmin and Robert Lockwood of Manistique. Both were able to escape the home prior to the firefighters arriving on scene.

No injuries were reported.

Manistique firefighters were assisted by Thompson, Hiawatha and Doyle Fire Departments, the Sault Tribal Police Department, and the Michigan State Police.

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