GREENVILLE, Mich. — A Tuesday morning fire in Greenville destroyed a warehouse used by the Flat River Community Players, a performing arts group.
Dispatchers confirmed the fire started at 2:10 a.m. It was called in by someone driving by. Firefighters said the building is an old structure, and the Players said the warehouse contained all of their props, costumes and set pieces.
Four departments responded to the blaze, and dispatchers said no one was inside the building. No injuries have been reported.
President of Flat River Community Players, Kent Schuster is still in disbelief that his second home is gone.
“I don’t know if I really believed it until I had to call work this morning and say it out loud," Schuster said holding back tears.
The building is a total loss.
“It was our home," Schuster said. "Everything we had was stored in that building.”
Schuster said the actors are performing 'A Christmas Story,' this weekend.
"What's saved is what's in the theater right now where we're performing," Schuster said.
The group performs at the Greenville Area Community Center, less than a mile away.
“The show has to go on, we’re going to open up Friday and hopefully we can go on like nothing’s happened," Schuster said.
He said several organizations have already contacted him to help in any way they can. FRCP started a GoFundMe page.
“A lot of people have asked where they can send donations, right now we can’t take anything physical until we find a home, and I think that’s our main focus right now is to find a home," Schuster said.
Crews battled the fire throughout the morning and firefighters are continuing to put out hot spots at the warehouse.
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