A resident of Ionia County stands in ash left by Whites Bridge after it was burned down in an arson fire on Sunday, July 7, 2013. The historic bridge was Michigan's oldest original-construction covered bridge built in 1867. (Lauren Petracca | MLive.com)

Erected in the late 1860s, the historic Whites Covered Bridge was destroyed by an arson fire on Sunday, July 7, 2013.

UPDATE: State police fire marshal to probe 'suspicious' blaze

UPDATE: Witness says bridge was ablaze 2 hours before initial 911 call

IONIA COUNTY, MI — Michigan’s oldest original-construction covered bridge has been destroyed by an arson fire, say authorities.

Whites Bridge in Ionia County has fallen into the Flat River as result of a fire reported to the Ionia County Sheriff’s Office at 5:12 a.m. on Sunday, July 7.

The beloved historic bridge, the oldest of its type in the state, is located on Whites Bridge Road about 8 miles northeast of Lowell in Keene Township.

Firefighters found the 120-foot bridge, erected in either 1867 or 1869, already destroyed by the time they arrived on the scene. Authorities say the blaze was intentional.

The last time fire struck an area covered bridge was in 1979 when the Ada Covered Bridge was destroyed in a similar fire. Amway Corp. paid for a replica bridge to be constructed and installed.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ionia County Sheriff’s Office at 616-527-5357, or Silent Observer at 616-527-0107.

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