Clouds of Black Smoke Reported at Highland Recreation Wednesday Night

Residents throughout White Lake and Highland reported seeing billowing clouds of black smoke Wednesday night, leaving many to worry about what caught fire at Highland Recreation Area.

The area, which is home to Haven Hill, is no stranger to arson - the famous Edsel Ford Lodge, inside the park,  was burned down in 1999.

Cpt. Ted Lilley with the White Lake Fire Department said Wednesday's fire was a controlled training drill - not an accidental fire, or arson.

The drill was part of a mutual aid training during which nine total departments from across the area responded to a "three-alarm" fire at Highland Recreation Area.

"The DNR had some old stables they wanted to take down, so they let us use the building for training," Lilley said.

While the fire was very real, there was no danger to any of the buildings currently in use at the park, or to any of the historic structures that make up Haven Hill.

Lilley said the fire was a controlled one, but that the size of it caused the smoke to be seen in the surrounding areas of White Lake and Highland.

The trainings are something that the departments try to do throughout the year so that, in the event of a large fire in the participating mutual aid communities, everyone is well trained and ready, Lilley said.