Firefighters Battle Wind-Driven Blaze
A significant fire incident occurred near Glen Arbor on Sunday, December 21, resulting in the destruction of three residential properties. The blaze was fueled by strong winds and cold conditions.
According to Glen Lake Fire Department Lt. Nate Perdue, no injuries were reported. The firefighting operation required the efforts of more than 40 personnel from a dozen different agencies to bring the flames under control.
Officials were alerted to the structure fire on the 6700 block of South Dunns Farm Road at approximately 5:30 a.m. The National Weather Service recorded wind speeds of 45 mph with gusts reaching up to 59 mph in the nearby Traverse City area that day.
The Glen Lake Fire Department stated in a release that a 911 caller, phoning from across Big Glen lake, observed "a large, orange glow coming from the area." Upon arrival, crews discovered three large homes engulfed in flames.
"The primary structure was fully involved and fire had extended into the adjacent homes," the release detailed. "Frigid temperatures and wind gusts upwards of 30 mph at the time of the fire provided a significant challenge to first arriving crews."
Firefighting efforts persisted until 12:30 p.m., at which point all fires were declared extinguished. The specific cause of the fire remains under investigation by authorities.
Numerous departments assisted in the response, including Almira Township Fire & EMS, Cedar Area Fire & Rescue, Elmwood Fire Department, and Grand Traverse Metro Emergency Services Authority, among others. The Red Cross also provided support.
Glen Arbor is located roughly 27 miles from Traverse City, situated north of Empire and close to the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore.
