A former local TV news anchor watched her home go up in flames as firefighters battled a massive blaze that could be seen from miles away.
Former WOOD TV8 anchor Michele DeSelms lost her home in a fire that tore through the residence in Plainfield Township, Mich., according to WOOD-TV.
Multiple fire departments rushed to the scene around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday after reports of a blaze at the home, not far from Grand Rapids.
By the time crews arrived, the house was already heavily engulfed in flames, the Plainfield Township Fire Department told the station.
DeSelms said everyone inside the home escaped safely.
A dog there also made it out without injury.
DeSelms told WOOD-TV that renovations were underway at the property when the fire broke out.
Dramatic images from the scene showed thick smoke billowing into the sky as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
The smoke plume was visible for miles across the Grand Rapids area. A camera positioned in downtown Grand Rapids — roughly 10 miles from the scene — captured a towering column of smoke rising above the horizon.
Authorities did not immediately determine the cause of the inferno.
Firefighters from several surrounding communities responded to assist.
Crews from Algoma Township, Alpine Township, Cannon Township, Sparta and Rockford joined Plainfield Township smoke eaters at the scene as they worked to bring the fire under control.
The fire drew significant attention across the area because of the large volume of smoke and because the homeowner is a familiar face to many viewers in western Michigan.
DeSelms worked at WOOD TV8 from 2020 to 2023.
Investigators have not yet said where the fire started or whether the renovation work underway at the house could have played any role.
The cause remains under investigation.
The Post has sought comment from DeSelms and the local fire department.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
