Fire destroys building in Marquette County

Firefighters from five departments responded to put out a fire at the Seeds and Spores farm, located at 724 Greenfield Road in Chocolay Township, just south of Marquette.

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The fire was reported at about 4:45 a.m. at the farm’s central operations building. The fire destroyed the metal-roofed building and spread to another small structure.

Seeds & Spores is well-known in the Marquette area community for producing a variety of organic foods, including produce, Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms, grass fed beef, pastured pork, chicken, turkey, and pasture raised eggs.

According to its’ website, www.seedsandspores.com, the farm grows for subscription members, the Marquette Food Co-op, and local restaurants. It has also had a presence at the Farmer’s Market in downtown Marquette in recent years.

A cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but a strong band of thunderstorms with lightning moved through the Chocolay Township, Skandia and West Branch Township areas at about the time the fire was reported.  The full cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

No injuries were reported.

The Chocolay Township Volunteer Fire Department was assisted by fire crews from Sands Township, the City of Marquette and Skandia-West Branch. Marquette County Rescue 131 and Marquette General EMS, the Marquette Board of Light and Power, Chocolay Township Police and Chocolay Township Department of Public Works also assisted.