GREENWOOD TWP- An early morning blaze destroyed an old-time Vermilion cabin at 2168 Birch Point Road on July 5.

The Greenwood, Tower, and Breitung fire departments were paged out around 2:40 a.m., according to Greenwood firefighter Jet Galonski, one of the first responders to the scene. The cabin was unoccupied at the time, and a neighbor called 911 after seeing flames on the roof.

Galonski said he and one other Greenwood firefighter arrived on scene within 15 minutes of the 911 call, but by then, the entire structure was fully engulfed.

Tower, Breitung, Cook, and Vermilion Lake also assisted at the scene.

The firefighters were able to contain the fire so it did not spread to nearby trees or neighboring cabins.

Angela and David Sipila, of Britt, owners of the cabin, had spent the day there on July 4, but had left in the evening.

“I had just spent the whole weekend cleaning up the cabin,” Angela said. “Now it’s just a black hole.”

Angela said they are very thankful for all the firefighters who responded to the scene in the middle of the night on a holiday weekend, and had special respect for three Greenwood firefighters who remained on the scene into the morning helping with cleanup.

She and her husband purchased the old cabin in 2012, and just this year had brought in power to the higher end of the lot where they have a camper parked. The cabin itself did not have electricity or plumbing, and was being used as a bunkhouse.

While the cabin did not hold a lot of sentimental value, she was truly relieved that the firefighters had been able to save the beautiful trees that were on the site.

“It was the crappiest cabin on Birch Point,” she said, “but it is a beautiful site and we love it.”

Sipila also had thanks for her two neighbors: Bob Burgess who called 911 when he saw flames in the middle of the night, and Derek Lamppa, who happens to be their insurance agent and was ready first thing to help them with the fire’s aftermath.

“These are the kind of neighbors you want to have,” she said.

Greenwood Township Supervisor John Bassing also reached out to her family, she said.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The State Fire Marshal did visit the scene on July 5, but Sipila said she had yet to receive the report.