A Livingston County family was displaced Monday after a fire that started in a camper spread to a garage and home on East Avenue in Caledonia, drawing dozens of firefighters to the scene.
Emergency crews were called to the property shortly before 3:30 p.m. for a reported camper fire, according to Livingston County Office of Emergency Management Deputy Fire Coordinator Dustin Geiger. Officials said strong winds helped the fire spread quickly to nearby structures.
Homeowner Edna McLean said she rushed to the scene after receiving a frantic call from her son.
“My son calls me in a panic, saying ‘the camper is on fire, the garage is on fire,’” McLean told 13WHAM-TV. “We called him back a couple of minutes later, saying ‘we’re on our way.’ He says, ‘Now the house is on fire.’”
Firefighters remained on scene for several hours Monday evening as crews worked to extinguish hotspots and check for fire extension throughout the home.
Officials said no injuries were reported, but the house sustained significant damage.
“It just was a total accident,” McLean said. “We didn’t expect anything like this to happen. The wind just picked right up and just took it.”
The family, which has lived at the property for about a decade, is now trying to determine its next steps. Several pets remained unaccounted for as of the latest update Monday night.
The American Red Cross was requested to assist the displaced family, according to emergency officials.
Family members have also launched a fundraiser to help cover emergency expenses as they recover from the fire.
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