GARFIELD TWP, MI — A blaze has greatly damaged a volunteer fire station in rural Bay County.

The morning of Thursday, Oct. 30, a motorist was driving by the Garfield Township Volunteer Fire Department at 1242 Erickson Road when they noticed the structure was on fire, said Bay County Sheriff Troy R. Cunningham. The motorist called the department’s chief and 911.

Crews from multiple fire departments responded to the scene to battle the blaze. Fire trucks inside the building were driven outside, though they sustained damage. Among the damaged trucks was one the department purchased in 2024 for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The roof ended up collapsing, rendering the building inoperable for the foreseeable future. No injuries were suffered.

A sheriff’s fire investigator is looking into what sparked the blaze, Cunningham said.

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