Ionia, Michigan - A midday fire gutted the second story of an Ionia home at 219 West Lincoln Avenue, on Saturday, July 22nd.
First arriving units arrived on scene to find heavy smoke coming from the rear of the home. Ionia firefighters made an interior attack into the home and found intense heat and smoke in the stairwell to the second floor. Within minutes the attic of the first floor addition was well involved and because of the balloon frame construction the fire was making it's way to the second story attic as well.
An aggressive attack and ventilation were made by incoming personnel.
Ionia Public Safety's 75' Spartan Aerial was used to get crews on the second story roof to ventilate. Additional manpower made entry to the second floor from the A side of the home and were able to push back the fire from continuing to destroy the remaining second story.
The fire was reported at 12:37 pm and was brought under control at approximately 2pm.
No one was home at the time and there were no injuries. A German Shepherd dog was rescued from the home but a family cat perished.
The Ionia Department of Public Safety was assisted at the scene with manpower and an Engine from Lyons/Muir Fire Department. Also assisting on the scene for a R.I.T. team was Berlin/Orange Townships Fire Department. The Saranac Community Fire Department supplied firefighters to aid in R.I.T.
The Ionia Department of Public Safety is a combination department made up of full-time cross trained police officer/ firefighters and also part time paid on call firefighters. The department covers the City of Ionia, Easton and Ionia Townships which is 66 square miles. The approximate population is 18,000.
