A former TV news anchor recently witnessed her home being consumed by a significant fire that was visible from several miles away.
Michelle Deselmes, who used to work at WOOD TV8, lost her residence in Plainfield Township, Michigan, due to the blaze, as reported by WOOD TV.
Fire departments were alerted to the situation around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday after getting numerous calls about the fire, which was located near Grand Rapids.
Officials from the Plainfield Township Fire Department mentioned that the home was already significantly ablaze by the time they arrived on the scene.
Fortunately, Deselmes confirmed that everyone inside—herself and others—made it out safely.
Even the dog there survived without any injuries.
Deselmes noted to WOOD-TV that renovation work was ongoing at the home at the time of the incident.
Dramatic footage depicted thick smoke rising into the sky as firefighters battled the fire.
This plume of smoke could be spotted from far away, with cameras in downtown Grand Rapids, roughly 16 miles away, capturing it rising on the horizon.
Authorities have not yet established a cause for the fire.
Firefighters from several neighboring areas responded, including crews from Algoma Township, Alpine Township, Cannon Township, Sparta, Rockford, and Smoke Eater from Plainfield Township, all working together to tackle the blaze.
The fire gained notable attention not only for the sheer volume of smoke but also because Deselmes is a familiar figure to many in West Michigan.
Deselmes worked at WOOD TV8 from 2020 until 2023, initially serving as community strategy manager and later anchoring the 7 p.m. newscast.
Investigators are still looking into the fire’s origin and whether the renovations played any part in its cause.
The cause remains under investigation.
A local newspaper has reached out to both Deselmes and the fire department for further comments.
