Sunday fire damages Five Star market on Willis Road in Sumpter

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
A fire erupted in the front of the newly remodeled Five Star market on Willis Road in Sumpter Township at about 6:45 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17.
Chelsea Schultz said she was making a pizza at the adjoining Benito’s Pizzeria when a customer started shouting out that there was a fire in the front.
Store owner Roy Atcho tried putting out the fire in the bottle return storage area part of the store with a fire extinguisher, but it couldn’t be put out and they called 911.
Sumpter Township Deputy Fire Chief Rick Brown said he was helping Van Buren Township fire fighters with a downed wire on Elwell Road, when the call came in.
Van Buren and Sumpter townships recently signed an automatic mutual aid agreement and so VBT sent their ladder truck to the fire.
Augusta Township also was sent to a store fire on Willis Road, but went west instead of east on Willis from Rawsonville and then saw the fire at Five Star and turned around to join the other fire fighters.
Deputy Chief Brown said Augusta Township also has automatic mutual aid with Ypsilanti Township so Ypsilanti Township fire fighters were soon on the scene, as well.
Brown said that the winds from the southeast and heavy rain actually helped them fight the fire by blowing the flames out of the north side of the building while fire-fighting efforts continued.
Brown said there is smoke and water damage to the market and Benito’s Pizza has water damage. The adjoining hair salon and nearby Kneads Dough bakery in the strip mall were not damaged.
Brown said the fire was under control within 45 minutes to an hour and fire departments were able to clear in about two hours.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Brown said Acho is working with his insurance company and hopes to be able to reopen soon.