Lansing – Lieutenant governor candidate Lisa Posthumus Lyons and her family were safe Sunday evening after a fire destroyed their family home in Republican nominated Bill Schuette.

The fire started in the garage, and there is no sign of foul play at this time, John Sellek spokesman told The Detroit News. The home had "significant" fire damage and was expected to be a total loss.

Bowne Township Chief Fire Chief Rick Vriesenga, whose department serves as the Vice President. Crews "just got back and are cleaning up now," Vriesenga said around 8 p.m.

Lyons, the daughter of Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus, grew up in the home and had been sharing with her husband, Brad, and their children Easton, Charlie, Gage and Fisher.

The family thanks for the prayers and offers of assistance. "They are very grateful for the firefighters, sheriffs, deputies and first responders who rushed to the scene."

It's not immediately clear what the fire will mean for Lyons' campaign schedule. With less than nine weeks before the Nov. 6 general election, she and her family now are where they will relocate.

"The family lost everything, so they are assessing the situation and her schedule," Sellek said.

Schuette, in a social media post, said the Posthumus family in his prayers and asked followers to "please keep them in your thoughts."

Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Gretchen Whitmer also offered condolences on Twitter. "I'm so sorry to see this and am glad the Lyons family is OK," she wrote.

Schuette picked Lyons as his running mate Aug. 15. She was formally nominated to the ballot at the Michigan Republican Party convention Aug. 25.

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