Church Fire on Barnes Road Deemed Suspicious

Authorities have deemed a fire that damaged a vacant former church on Barnes Road to be "suspicious in nature," with the incident under active investigation. 

According to the Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office, emergency personnel responded to the former  Harbor Light Christian Center property at 4:30am on June 20. Crews from multiple agencies worked to extinguish a blaze in the vacant building and prevent it from spreading to nearby properties. No injuries were reported. The building was later determined to be uninhabitable.

"Based on information at this time, investigators have determined the fire to be suspcious in nature," the Sheriff's Office said in a releaser. Detectives and special agents are "conducting a joint investigation to determine the cause and circumstances surrounding the incident." 

Detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activty or may have information on the fire - including individuals with surveillance footage, dash cam footage, or photographs - to contact the Sheriff's Office at 231-995-5012 or 1-888-44-ARSON. Emails can also be sent to firetips@atf.gov. 

Garfield Township trustees this week approved a major amendment to Copper Ridge's planned unit development (PUD) - a zoning plan tailored to a specific property - that covered the Harbor Light parcel. According to that application, the church building is planned to be converted into a new medical facility operated by Hand Surgery Partners LLC.