An apartment building in Little Lake near the Brown’s Store on M-35 is seen engulfed in flames early Friday morning. (Ashley Hendrix photo)

LITTLE LAKE — An apartment building on M-35 in Forsyth Township has been razed after a fire tore through the structure Friday morning.

The fire was called in to Marquette County Central Dispatch just after 6 a.m. Friday at 1687 E-M35 near Brown’s Store in Little Lake.

While five families are believed displaced, no injuries were reported and all pets made it out of the building safely, authorities said.

Michigan State Police had to close M-35 about 9:21 a.m. Friday while crews fought the blaze, but the highway reopened by early afternoon.

The Forsyth Township Department of Public Works tore down the building Friday afternoon, according to the Forsyth Township Facebook page. Local authorities cleared the site at about 3 p.m.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

The American Red Cross, St. Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army were assisting at the site with emergency supplies, such as food and blankets, for the five displaced families, said Brian Hummel, disaster program manager with the American Red Cross Marquette office.

“Going forward, we’ll be providing case work with those families and we have the fire hall reserved in Forsyth Township (Saturday) at noon to actually sit down and meet with the families that were displaced,” Hummel said.

The Red Cross also was providing financial assistance for local hotels and as well as offering mental health services, medical equipment and any medications they might need. The organization will work with the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul to supply families with household items.

“If individuals have the resources they’d like to donate, feel free to contact the Red Cross or reach out to the Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul. We all work very closely together and are happy to get any resources,” Hummel said.

Forsyth Township Fire and EMS and crews from the townships of Sands, Skandia, West Branch, Richmond, Chocolay and Marquette assisted at the site. The Marquette County Search and Rescue Unit 131 also provided support.

Trinity Carey can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206, or tcarey@miningjournal.net.