The fire claimed 817 acres and a few structures, but no homes were lost
CRAWFORD CO., MI -- Fire officials say it was a small smoldering fire ignited by lightning on Monday that caused Tuesday’s wildfire on the Kalkaska-Crawford County border.
7&4's Andrew Keller has been covering the fire for the past 24 hours and spent Wednesday with evacuated families as they went back home.
What you see behind me is simply amazing, and it's a tribute to the firefighters who spent countless hours out here trying to protect the houses. The fire burned completely around this house behind me and it's owned by a guy I talked to last night who said he didn't know if his house would be here when he came back.
"I had to laugh actually, we still have all of our things, and it's great!" said a smiling Tim Rombach, who was evacuated Tuesday and went to back to his home on Wednesday.
Land around Tim Rombach's house is charred. A charred snow blower and the frame of what was once a dirt bike are all that is left of his storage shed, but it's home, sweet home.
“They were able to stop the fire, and the fire went all the way around the house, completely," said Rombach.
Four fire trucks filled with volunteer firefighters doused his house with water. He says if it wasn't for them, the log home would be ashes. His un touched house wasn't the only good news!
“Animal control called me last night and said, 'hey, we have your three goats, where do you want them?'" he said.
“Oh this is really something, you know?" said an astonished Patricia Elliott who saw the damage for the first time.
You may remember Elliott and her husband Dale. They were also evacuated and stayed with family last night. They went to their home for the first time this morning and invited me along
“I'm just really grateful. I didn't think we'd have this when we moved back today. I really didn't,” admitted an emotional Patricia.
The pictures that were so important went back on their walls.
"Declared contained this morning, when they completed the line overnight, 100 percent of the line was in, the fire is contained," explained Department of Natural Resources Public Information Officer Jack Pilon.
“Thank you, thank you for all of you wonderful firemen," said Patricia Elliott.
The firefighters looked exhausted today, but those men and women were still at it, making sure this fire wouldn't pick back up and damage would stay at 817 acres.
“Everything went quite well on this fire," said Pilon.
For the next several days, firefighters will continue to work at the Howes Lake Fire, making sure all hotspots are put out completely and this fire can be put to rest.
