Turkey Fryer Fire Destroys Popular West Michigan Hangout

OTSEGO (Newschannel 3) - It was a very busy Thanksgiving day for firefighters in the Otsego area, fighting two major fires that started within less than 12 hours of each other.

Firefighters had barely cleared the scene of an early morning fire that claimed two lives at the Alpine Park Apartments, when they got a second call.

This time, a massive fire had spread through West Michigan's most popular line dancing night saloon, destroying a family's dream business.

The Bresa Del Rio was a West Michigan institution, with people coming from all over for country dancing and entertainment. But after the fire, all that's left is charred rubble.

For Scherri Brazill, who founded The Bresa with her late husband Tom, it was too much to bear.

"We had a dream to build a big horse facility. We spent our whole life doing it... I just feel so sorry. It's just going to touch and hurt a lot of people," she told Newschannel 3.

The saloon and a nearby barn, started to burn after the owner's family had gathered for thanksgiving dinner. According to witnesses, the grease from to turkey fryers spilled, igniting the kitchen and bar before spiraling out of control.

Jennifer Kemp from Allegan County's 4H knew the family, and came to make sure the family's horses and animals were safe.

"It was just a family thing," said Kemp. "They were just cooking in the back kitchen."

For the second time in one day, Otsego Fire Chief Vince Pagano arrived on the scene of what would become a devastating fire.

"I saw smoke from town, and when I got here, it was fully involved," said Pagano.

Otsego firefighters had just gotten back to the station from the earlier fire, when they had to rush back out to The Bresa.

Pagano says he called for extra tankers to come in, because the fire was in a part of Otsego where water can be scarce. He estimates that firefighters had to pour 15-to 20,000 gallons of water on the flames to get them out.

Firefighters were also hampered by electrical transformers nearby that were sparking amidst the flames, so crews had to wait to begin fighting the fire until Consumers Energy showed up to turn off the power.

After the majority of the fire was out, Brazill searched through the wreckage, hoping to find the saddles she considers to be priceless family treasures. Many of them were found, but the one that belonged to Brazill's husband, was not.

"Tom's saddle didn't get out, and that was something I really wanted to find," she said.

Brazill says that the last time her children had done an interview with Newschannel 3, it was when they took over the business, and they spoke about fulfilling the family's dream. But now she doesn't know if that's possible, because everything that burned down was under-insured.

"This was just our life and our family's life and it's gone," she said. "I just hope it will come back again."