Motor home catches fire in garage at commercial business

Apr. 2—Four fire departments responded to a fire at Commercial Contractors Inc., 16745 Comstock St., shortly after 9 a.m. Friday.

The business is located on the northeast corner of Comstock Street and 168th Avenue.

Smoke from the fire could be seen from miles away.

Business owner Ken Sharkey said that his 45-foot motor home had caught on fire. He had just put the motorhome in the business's garage the day before.

Sandy Sharkey said that she and her husband, along with about seven other employees were working in the front office area when the smoke alarm went off Friday morning. There was nobody working in any other part of the building, including the garage, at the time.

There's an immediate connection to the alarm company, which calls 911.

Sandy Sharkey said there was no smell of smoke in the office.

"So one of the employees went and opened the back door and it was full of smoke," she said. The employee was on the phone with 911 at the time. That's when everyone safely evacuated the building.

The Sharkeys stood outside with other employees and spectators and watched smoke roll out of the garage area for almost four hours.

Firefighters soaked down the building, while a crew from Dick's Towing attempted to pull the large, burning vehicle out of the garage.

Fire officials said the fire was out before 1 p.m.

Ken Sharkey said that he believed the fire was contained to the garage area. There is a shop between the garage and the offices.

Assisting Grand Haven Department of Public Safety at the scene were Grand Haven Township Fire Rescue, Spring Lake Fire Rescue and the Ferrysburg Fire Department. Also on the scene were Ottawa County Sheriff's deputies, North Ottawa Community Hospital paramedics and Norton Shores Canteen.

You may contact Becky Vargo at bvargo@grandhaventribune.com.