Tower couple has refurbished home damaged

Shortly after noon Wednesday fire crews from the Forest-Waverly and Onaway fire departments were dispatched to a structure fire on Charles Street in Tower.

Neighbors noticed smoke coming from a home belonging to engaged couple Timothy Richards and Monica Haven, who were not there when the fire started.

Along with calling for emergency personnel to respond, the good Samaritans stretched garden hoses from their homes across the street, broke out a window on the east side of the building, and tried to put it out.

When firefighters from Forest-Waverly arrived, which is less than a quarter of a mile from the house, the neighbors let them handle the situation.

The Onaway Fire Department was asked to respond to provide mutual aid, but the fire was quickly put out.

Forest-Waverly fire chief Chris Larson said they found a couch on fire in the living room area and had it out in five minutes. After it was doused, crews dragged what was left onto the front lawn. Richards and Haven were contacted at a friend’s house, and when they rushed to the scene, the couple found their recently refurbished home with smoke and water damage.

“Everything is black,” said Richards. “I know the front room and kitchen are gone, because there was so much smoke.”

The fire had the couple s

tunned, considering the amount of work that was done on the house last year. They had stripped the interior down to the two-by-fours.

“We did everything but the siding and the windows on the house,” said Richards. “We gutted it, electrical and wiring, plumbing, carpet, all new cabinets. We did it all.”

Larson said the origin of the fire was the couch, but the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

The Michigan State Police fire marshal from Petoskey was assisting with the investigation. Larson said 15 firefighters from his crew responded to the scene.

The couple has insurance on the home.

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