Most have heard the old saying, “When it rains, it pours.” 

This past month the village of Ontonagon Volunteer Fire Department (OVFD) has been pouring water on fires.

“Over the past month, we have had three structure fires…that is just in the last month,” said Jim Miles of the OVFD.  “We’re going to have to upgrade our fire prevention.”

The first over the last month was the total loss of a home on Parker Avenue, a house belonging to Ryan Huff. Huff was not home at the time, and there were no injuries in that fire 

The next was a mobile home fire on Norwich Road, which ended in a total loss for Bud Strauch. No injuries were suffered in that fire. 

This past week, an outdoor wood-burning shed owned by Joe Gertz,  off of U.S. 45, also caught fire.

Miles thanked the assistance of adjoining fire departments.

“We got help from the Rockland Fire Department, along with the Greenland Fire Department on fires where it was close to them,” he said.

Miles stated that Greenland has a new fire tanker.

In Ontonagon County, all the fire departments are volunteers and all work closely with each other.

The village of Ontonagon has budgeted for improvements in equipment and the Fire Department building. Both the village and township residents provide funding for the OVFD.

Miles and the OVFD hopes this rash of fires will subside and thanked the community for their continued support.