Courtesy photo Strong winds hampered the efforts of firefighters at the scene of a house fire in Bay de Noc Township Thursday. The structure was destroyed, but a mother and her children were able to escape the home unharmed.

BAY DE NOC TOWNSHIP — Strong winds played a role when a Bay de Noc Township home was destroyed by fire Thursday, according to firefighters.

At approximately 2:47 p.m., Masonville Township Fire Department was dispatched to Bay de Noc Township for a structure fire. Upon arrival, the structure was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters confirmed that a mother and her children who resided there were out of the structure and safe. Do to the strong winds, the fire quickly spread throughout the structure. The attached garage and west portion of the structure had already been destroyed upon arrival.

Firefighters quickly attacked the fire, but control of the fire was hampered by strong winds which delayed the extinguishment. The structure was a total loss.

Masonville Township Fire Department was assisted on scene by Masonville Township EMS, Ensign Township Fire Department, Brampton Township Fire Department, Nahma Township Fire Department, Escanaba Township Fire Department, Garden Township Fire Department, the American Red Cross, Delta County Central Dispatch, Alger Delta Electric, Jack’s Restaurant, Kerry Sundberg Logging, and Michigan State Police, Fire Investigation Unit.

The cause and origin of this fire remains under investigation at this time, according to Zackery Christianson, Masonville Township Fire Department fire chief.