Marsh re rages in Clay Township

The fire covered parts of Clay County, Algonac and Algonac State Park, Clay Township Fire Chief Rick Edler said. He said there was some damage to homes, although he had no information about how many or how badly the houses damaged. WPHM-AM reported three homes were damaged.

Emergency personnel at the scene reported that three firefighters had received treatment, two for smoke inhalation and one for minor injuries sustained when the fire burned over him.

Firefighters were working late last night to put the fire out and keep it away from nearby houses. Bob Hintzkie used his house to try to keep away the fire, which at one point burned within 50 feet of his house.

AP PHOTO A fire, which started in dried out marsh lands, covered parts of Clay County, Algonac and Algonac State Park and consumed more than 120 acres.

"All I could think of was the sparks. Those pine trees go up like flamethrowers, you know," he said, pointing to pine trees next to his garage. The flames that shot up to 30 feet into the sky could be seen from Michigan Highway 29 and the glow from the fire could be seen in the sky from miles away.

Attempts to put out the fire were hampered by the 20 mph winds, the terrain which made it difficult to get equipment to the scene and the dryness of the brush, Edler said.

"We've got heavy brush that's been dry all summer. With the wind, it makes it tough to fight."

Rick Furtah, a retired Marine City firefighter who was called onto duty last night because of the size of the fire, said that it was mostly grass and brush that were burning, along with some wood piles. He said the fire was so strong that it burned over a 20-foot-wide bicycle path and a drainage ditch.

M-29 was closed from Algonac to Marine City because of the fire. Crews from eight fire departments were on the scene. The Salvation Army was on the scene feeding the fire crews.

11-24-98