(BATAVIA TOWNSHIP) – Fire destroyed a Batavia Township home.

Bronson Fire Chief Steve Wilber says his department was called out at 5 AM Friday for a fire in the 400 block of U.S. 12. Heavy fire and smoke were seen coming from one side of the house as firefighters arrived.

The Coldwater, Burr Oak, Lakeland, Colon, Union City and Sherwood Fire Departments were called in to provide mutual aid to battle blaze, which took over five hours to extinguish.

A portion of U.S. 12 was closed down and traffic was re-routed while crews tried to put out the fire. Wilber says they were slowed down in trying to put out the fire because of the amount of items in the dwelling.

Wilber is working with the Michigan State Police Fire Marshal to determine the cause of the fire. No damage estimates have been released.