Large amounts of thick smoke roll across Gladstone’s South 17th Street from the eaves of a home on fire as firefighters prepare to eliminate the source and vent the structure. (Escanaba Daily Press photo)

GLADSTONE — Firefighters were dispatched to the corner of Dakota Avenue and 17th Street in Gladstone on Thursday where smoke was seen coming from the eaves of a residence. No one was home at the time of the incident, but the tenant believed a dog was indoors.

Though a cause and exact point of origin could not yet be determined, Director Rob Robinson of Gladstone Public Safety said the fire may have been electrical and was probably localized in the attic.

At 12:30 p.m., Gladstone Public Safety, Gladstone Volunteer Fire Department, Escanaba Township Fire Department and DTE Energy were all on scene. They were joined shortly thereafter by Cornell volunteer firefighters. Robinson said Gladstone’s electrical department was also there.

Smoke was rolling from the eaves around all sides of the house. As firefighters suited up, the smoke got thicker and darker, obscuring 16th Street so that only lights of the fire engine could be seen on the block.

Firefighters used poles to poke ventilation holes in the eaves of the house in several locations, hosed down multiple sides, and were seen entering via the garage.

Later, Escanaba Township’s ladder truck extended over the highest point of the house, and firefighters made a hole in the roof for access.

“There was a heavy smoke coming from the eaves more in the garage (and) living room area,” said Robinson, after most of the chaos had calmed down. “There were flames coming out of the living room window, which we knocked down right away. But as far as where it started, I can only assume somewhere between this living room and garage, more in the attic area is what we got so far,” he said, gesturing towards the west side of the house with attached garage from 17th Street. “It spread to the main part of the house through the attic … Most of it was up in the attic, so one would assume electrical, but I can’t confirm that.”