Fire in Downtown Holly
(Crystal A. Proxmire, June 21, 2022)
Holly, MI – As of 4:30pm a fire was burning in Downtown Holly. Firefighters are working to put out the blaze that witnesses say is centered around Battle Alley Arcade Antiques and may have spread to nearby buildings.
The extent of damage is not known at this time. People are asked to avoid Downtown Holly while firefighters put out the blaze.
As of 6pm the fire was ongoing, and has spread to nearby restaurant Andy’s Place. Holly Village Fire Department is joined by crews from North Oakland County Fire Authority and Fenton as they continue working to contain the fire.
At 8pm firefighters were still pouring water on the buildings but the main fire seems to be out. Village Manager Jerry Walker says there were no injuries of occupants but that five firefighters were treated for heat-related exhaustion. Battle Alley Arcade and Andy’s Place are destroyed, and Holly Hotel experienced significant damage. Neighboring businesses were impacted with smoke and water damage.
Walker thanked the 17 neighboring fire departments who sent vehicles and crews. At one point there were five ladder trucks shooting water onto the fire. He credited the Department of Public Service for their efforts in redirecting water pressure, filling up the water towers, and maintaining water flow to residences while giving the firefighters the water they needed. Among the fire departments that assisted were Troy, Rochester, Oxford, Brandon, Springfield, and more.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, though Walker said he has no reason to suspect that it was caused by anything other than an accidental cause.
The fire also caused service to be paused on the railroad lines through the village.
The Village of Holly alerted residents later in the evening that due to the extreme water usage required for putting out the fire, water would be brown for the time being. “This is NOT a boil water notice. The water will clear up soon,” stated the email alert from the Village.
The alert also said “Holly is our home, and we are extremely grateful for our Village of Holly Fire Department and all of the surrounding areas Fire Departments that came to help in our time of need. We are forever blessed that no one was hurt today. Yet, we mourn the loss of our historic buildings and treasured businesses. We know our community will be strong and come together during this time.”
This story is being updated as more information and pictures become available. This story is presented without in-story advertising due to the nature of the story.