Pet Saved from Blaze that Destroyed 110-Year-Old Building

Champ, a pet rabbit, was rescued from the fire that destroyed Highland Feed Sunday morning. (Photo via Facebook)

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Firefighters from Highland Township and surrounding areas battled a multi-alarm fire at Highland Feed since about 7:30 a.m. Sunday, according to reports.

The fire was mostly extinguished at noon, but motorists were still being asked to avoid Highland’s downtown business district.

Milford Road in Highland Township has been re-opened to normal traffic. However, Livingston Road remains closed at this time, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department said.

The store’s alarm company reported a breach about 7:25 a.m., followed by calls from other people who saw smoke, the sheriff’s office said.

Seven fire departments assisted in battling blaze.

Owners Mike and Debbie Maher were getting ready for church when they got the call they needed to rush to the store, where they watched their “life’s investment” go up in flames.

Firefighters had to truck water in to fight the fire and weren’t able to save the building, Mike Maher said.

Before it was a feed store, the 110-year-old building housed a train station, dance hall and tavern. A feed business has operated there for about 60 years.

Firefighters were able to save Champ, a pet rabbit that lived at the store.

Maher said he will be selling feed Monday morning, likely out of semi trailers.”We want to be right back in business,” he told WDIV.

The family released the following statement on the Highland Feed & Supply Facebook page:

Awful day for our family our customers and our community. The historic Highland Feed building is completely destroyed by fire. Valiant effort by 9 communities to try to save the structure. No hydrants or water in this section of Downtown Highland made it almost impossible to fight the fire.

Please be patient with us as we regroup and rebuild. We will be available immediately at my cell phone 248-508-8530. We aren’t going anywhere but this will take a while to get back to normal

Everyone is safe. Incredible effort by the firefighters and awesome support from neighbors and community

Pray for a blessing to come out of this tragedy.

The Maher Family

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

WDIV had pictures of the fire.