Esky Fire Destroys 3 Homes

2 Escanaba families are homeless tonight after an overnight fire destroys their houses.

It started a little before 1:30 this morning at 310 South 14th Street.

Escanaba Public Safety says the house was already fully engulfed when they got there, with flames shooting out of the windows and doors.

Those flames eventually reached the houses on either side at 308 and 312 South 14th, setting both of them on fire as well.

One of the houses was vacant, but a total of 7 people lived in the other 2.

All 7 of them got out safely ahead of the blaze.

But a dog that lived in the 310 house did not.

Besides keeping the flames away from other houses, fire crews say area drivers posed a problem by running over the fire hoses in the street.

So was refueling the trucks because of how long they needed to remain running.

Firefighters were there most of the morning putting out hot spots.

Gladstone Public Safety and the Ford River Township Volunteer Fire Department were among the other agencies that sent mutual aid.

The cause of the fire is under investigation tonight.