While the cause of the two fires at 517 S. 8th St. has not yet been released, the phenomenon of rekindling is not uncommon; fires that have been seemingly put out can reignite when heat and embers remain. Firefighters refer to the occurrence as a reflash or rekindle.

“Reflash can happen for several reasons, including the lack of water to cool down the surrounding area, the lack of ventilation to remove the heat and smoke, and the presence of flammable materials that have not been completely extinguished,” states APX Data, which collects information from thousands of fire departments in order to develop software for emergency responders.

The house at 517 S. 8th St. in Escanaba, a rental, had caught fire around 9:30 a.m. There were visible flames, and later, quite a bit of smoke as EPSD, Ford River Fire Department, Escanaba Township Fire Departent and Cornell Fire Department fought the blaze.

They contained the fire and kept it from spreading to the neighboring houses. By afternoon, after a few hours on scene, they considered the burn done and left.

Flames engulf the roof of an Escanaba home for the second time on the coldest day of the winter. (Rob McNamara | Daily Press)

Friday was the coldest day of the year. Delta County Search and Rescue brought a warming trailer for personnel and equipment. Caps on at least one hydrant were difficult to remove in the frigid weather. It was 15 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, with a wind chill of 37 below.

It is possible that in such an extreme environment, with everything that had been doused covered in ice, the firefighters missed a lingering warm spot that may have been buried under debris or hidden within a wall.

Around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, the unoccupied South Eighth Street house was once again ablaze.

Upon EPSD’s arrival, visible flames were through the roof, fully-engulfing the upper story and then some. The local public safety department initiated an attack with ladder truck 35, the deluge gun off of fire engine 35, and two handlines, according to a press release issued that night.

Escanaba Township Fire Department, Delta County Search and Rescue, City of Escanaba Water Department and Delta County Central Dispatch all assisted. Kwik Trip provided hot drinks and snacks for responders.

A charred house and ice- and ash-covered lawn are shown Monday after two fires on Friday. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

The second time, units remained on scene for an additional four hours, and “the fire was successfully contained and extinguished, preventing further spread or damage to nearby dwellings,” EPSD’s later press release said.

“Firefighters must be aware of the possibility of reflash and take steps to prevent it from occurring. This may include staying on the scene for an extended period of time to ensure the fire is completely out, or using specialized extinguishing agents to cool down the surrounding area and prevent reignition,” says APX. “Overhauling is also an important task after a fire is put out. It refers to the process of searching for and extinguishing any remaining hotspots, as well as to inspect the damage and make sure that the fire is completely out. This can help prevent rekindle and ensure the safety of the building and its occupants.”

Other U.P. incidents of rekindling happened in Ironwood in March 2018 in a blaze that killed three people, in Manistique in March 2024 and in Painesdale earlier this month.

A Mini Cooper is covered in snow and ash behind a burned home on South Eighth Street. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

On Friday night, emergency responders blast a rekindled house fire with water. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)