Barely an hour after other Delta County agencies had cleared the scene of a residential fire in Nahma Township, central dispatch received another call for a house on fire at 517 S. 8th St. in the City of Escanaba.

Units from the Escanaba Public Safety Department (EPSD) quickly responded, including fire engine 35, ladder truck 35 and the rescue truck. Because of the scale of the blaze, additional agencies were called in to assist.

By the time the first responders arrived, no occupants were in the building. The fire was most visible on the upper floor, from windows at the front and rear.

Crews initiated what the EPSD referred to as “an aggressive fire attack” using the ladder truck and a handline.

Escanaba Public Safety's Det. Lt. Tabitha Turnacliff is at the top of ladder truck 35 with a jet spraying the peak of a burning house.

“The fire was successfully contained and extinguished, preventing further spread or damage to dwellings near,” read EPSD’s press release.

Ford River Fire Department, Escanaba Township Fire Department and Cornell Fire Department all assisted in handling the fire. Rampart EMS was also on scene.

In addition, Delta County Search and Rescue provided a heated trailer that allowed personnel and equipment to be warmed up and thawed during the incident. It was the coldest day of the winter so far; the air temperature in Escanaba was about 15 degrees below zero, and the wind chill was 37 below.

“The primary challenges we encountered were related to the extreme cold temperatures,” wrote ESPD Captain Austin Young later that day. “Upon arrival, crews found that the caps on the hydrant were frozen shut and could not be opened initially. Crews quickly relocated to another hydrant, established a water supply, and were later able to get the original hydrant operating as well. …Cold weather conditions also impacted equipment on scene, including hoses and SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) components, which required ongoing attention to prevent freezing.”

Young expressed that firefighters were fortunate to have the warming trailer available thanks to Delta County Search and Rescue.

Smoke climbs into the air in southern Escanaba and a home's facade displays damage from the still-burning fire as Det. Lt. Tabitha Turncliff reaches the top of Escanaba's number 35 ladder truck. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

Red Cross was contacted in order to be able to assist affected and displaced families. While it was unclear whether the structure will officially be declared a complete loss, parts of the building were collapsing, and it is not inhabitable at this time.

While it is always tragic and upsetting when homes are lost, people may at least take solace in the knowledge that no people were injured.

EPSD extended “a sincere thank you to our incredible community for their continued support, including the hot coffee brought to the scene to help keep our responders warm and energized during extremely cold conditions.”

According to realtor.com, the house that burned was built in 1898 and last sold in 2021 for $74,000. It is a 1,884-square-foot structure on a 6,970-square-foot lot, common for the area.

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The siding of the front of 517 S. 8th St. falls as the house burns and firefighters hose it down. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Pess)

R. R. Branstrom may be reached at 906-786-202, ext. 140, or rbranstrom@dailypress.net.

Smoke spills from a window and hangs around the roofline at the rear of 517 S. 8th St. in Escanaba on Friday. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)