SHERWOOD, MI (WTVB) – A blaze early Sunday in Branch County destroyed a home and garage in Sherwood Township. The fire at the Denise Cross residence at 836 Milligan Road was reported around 3:50 a.m.
Sherwood Fire Chief Steve Langdon said Cross and a man in the house woke up when they heard the smoke alarm sound and they escaped before the flames moved from the garage to engulf the home. Langdon said it appears the fire was sparked by faulty wiring to a clothes dryer in the garage.
The State Fire Marshall is scheduled to investigate the scene on Wednesday. Sherwood was assisted by the Union City and Athens Fire Departments.
According to Langdon, Cross had no insurance on the structure and she lost everything, including a van in the garage. The Branch County Sheriff’s Department Victim Services Unit was called for assistance. Firefighters were on the job for more than five hours.