Fire destroys lake house, shuts down road

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich. (WPBN/WGTU) -- Grand Traverse Metro Fire crews responded to a house fire on West Silver Lake Road around 2 p.m. Monday.

Neighbors say the homeowner was the only man inside the house at the time, and was able to get out safely.

However, Reed Frederick, the homeowner says his dog was not able to make it out alive.

Black smoke could be seen from at least two miles away.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff's deputies shut down part of the road for several hours while crews battled the flames.

Neighbors say the house was multiple stories and had cedar shake siding, as well as a wood stove inside which could have played a part in the fire.

The fire destroyed the lake house, caught nearby trees on fire, spread to a neighboring home and melted siding on two others.

Frederick says he was inside the home watching t.v. when someone knocked telling him there was smoke coming out of his house and that he needed to get out.

“All I got is what I’m wearing," said Frederick. There’s nothing else. I couldn’t even walk out with my wallet. It filled up with smoke so fast after I walked out the first time I couldn’t even go back to get anything."

Frederick says he built the house in the early 1970's and hopes to rebuild.

He will be staying with his daughter for the time being.

The cause of the fire is not known at this time and is under investigation.