UNDATED (WHTC) - As the Lakeshore hunkers down for more than three months of cold weather, house fires are keeping crews on opposite sides of Allegan County busy.

One blaze early this morning at a residence near 146^th Avenue and 64^th Street in Graafschap involved several departments and forced a family of five to flee to safety. The two-story home and three vehicles were destroyed in the blaze, which apparently started when ashes from a fireplace ignited in a garbage can placed in a garage.

Meanwhile, investigators in Ganges Township say that a serial arsonist is apparently behind a string of eight vacant home fires over a two-year span, including one last Thursday that completed the destruction of a residence off of 68^th Street near 111^th Avenue that was torched six days ago. No suspect is in custody, and tips to the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department or Silent Observer (855-SILENT-0) are welcome.