Houghton fire department responds to a debris fire behind a fraternity house on College Avenue. On Monday around 10 pm, Houghton city fire fighters responded to a call for a fire on a hillside from a concerned resident. Firefighters found the fire located in the backyard of the sigma pi fraternity house. The debris in the fire included items such as a mattress. Firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the fire before it could reach nearby vegetation and trees on the hillside.
Houghton City Fire Chief Eric James commented that the fire was very dangerous in its location, “With the wind tonight we could have seen the whole hillside on fire.”
James also wants to remind those in Houghton that debris burns are not permitted within city limits. Additionally, Houghton County currently has a burn prohibition in place due to a high fire rating posted by the Michigan DNR for the area.
According to the ordinances of the City of Houghton, recreational fires using only untreated lumber are only permitted if they are in a fire pit that is at least 4 inches above ground, not more than 3 feet across in any direction, contained on all sides, has a screened top and is at least 15 feet away from the lot line or any structure.
