(BETHEL TOWNSHIP) – A Bethel Township home was destroyed Tuesday by a fire, that was made difficult to put out by the windy conditions.

Fire Chief Scott Wilber says the Bronson Fire Department was called out by Branch County Central Dispatch to a fire at 523 West Central Road at 11:40 Tuesday morning. The house is located right next to Caudill And Sons Recycling. Crews arrived and Wilber says they saw flames coming through the roof of the two story farm house. The Lakeland, Union City, Burr Oak, Sherwood and Orland Fire Departments were called in to provide mutual aid and their tanker trucks.

It took five hours to finally bring the fire under control and put it out. Wilber says over 150,000 gallons of water were used.

One person was home at the time the fire broke out. Bystanders were able to get the occupant out just before firefighters arrived. The person was treated at the scene and then taken to ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital by Life Care Ambulance.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire. Damage estimates stand at $225,000 to the house and $60,000 to the contents.

A posting on the Caudill And Sons Facebook page says the business is going to be closed until further notice, and they thank the community for all of their kind and caring words.