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This Article appeared in the Mining Journal January 7,2007

Marquette City Fire Department personnel stand outside the 231 House of Muses Saturday morning after an early morning fire at the downtown Marquette building. (Journal photo by Don Lhamon)

This Article appeared in the Mining Journal June 9.2005

Up North Lodge burns
GWINN - The Up North Lodge, a resort and restaurant located on the shore of Big Shag Lake in Gwinn, burned down early this morning.

The building was a total loss, according to Forsyth Township Fire Department Capt. Don Hutchens.

The fire department received a call regarding the fire at 1:24 a.m., Hutchens said. The caller saw the fire from across the lake, and assumed it was nothing more than a bonfire, Hutchens said. "By the time the first truck checked out the scene, it was a fully involved structure fire," he said.

About 20 firefighters were at the scene, including ones from Skandia, West Branch, Sands and Richmond townships as well as from Marquette County. It took about five hours and 100,000 gallons of water to douse the flames, Hutchens said.

It has not been determined what caused the fire. A fire marshal will investigate the scene today, Hutchens said. The building was vacant at the time of the fire. The building is owned by Scott and Sally Searle.

This Article appeared in the Mining Journal May 22,2005

Officials urge caution with outdoor burning; Wildfire

danger remains
PHOTO: Sands and Chocolay townships firefighters knocks down flames at the leading edge of a wildfire off Ortman Road near Harvey Saturday. Despite recent rains, wildfire officials said the woods are still dry and the fire danger is listed as very high. (Journal photos by Pete Mackin)

By PETE MACKIN, Journal Staff Writer

HARVEY - The fire danger in Marquette County has not subsided despite recent rain and growing grass, as one Sands Township resident discovered Saturday when his backyard started on fire."There's a lot of false security out there right now," Michigan Department of Natural Resources fire officer Kay Fisher said. "No burn permits are issued during high danger conditions like we have now, but here we had a lot of moisture and most people think that was enough. But this debris dries up quick as they just found out."At about 3:30 p.m., Sands Township firefighters were called to the wildfire on Ortman Road, a couple of miles behind the Cherry Creek Elementary School in Chocolay Township.

"The homeowner called (911) and said he had a brush fire spreading rapidly toward his garage," said Sands Township Firefighter Sam Schwemin, who was one of the first on scene. "There were four of us on the engine. We protected the structure and did the best we could to contain it until support could arrive."Chocolay Township arrived shortly after and began working the front of the fire, which shifted several times from north to south. Around the same time, DNR pilot Neil Harri discovered the smoke and called in DNR wildfire teams. The blaze, which charred 1 to 3 acres of the homeowner's property, was contained just before 5 p.m.

With the exception of a few older stumps and trees, the blaze was primarily contained to debris on the ground. Chocolay and Sands firefighters quickly jumped to action as the leading edge of the fire crackled toward Ortman Road, across which many homes are situated."Once it got around that edge it took off on us. It got into some leaves and stumps," Chocolay Firefighter Dean Furey said, who was busy raking burning materials away from dry debris.Missy Sebeck and Randy Schwemin, both of Sands Township, had the job of dousing flames with water.

"We're trying to stop it from jumping the road," said Schwemin as she arched the spray as far up as possible in an attempt to knock down the lead flames creeping toward the neighborhood. Sebeck called back to team members redeploying as the front once again changed direction."We need some more line here," Sebeck exclaimed.Thankfully the wind was fairly still and the flames did not reach up into the nearby pines which, according to Furey would have added significantly to their problems."If it would have started those pines we would have been in trouble," Furey said. "They heat up really fast and those needles take off everywhere."

The incident remains under investigation.

This Article appeared in The Mining Journal April 12, 2005

PHOTO: Local emergency authorities at the scene of a grass fire at a house on Wright Street near Northern Michigan University in Marquette Monday night. The fire started in the yard of the house at right, spreading to the house itself. According to the DNR, the entire Upper Peninsula wildfire danger is listed as very high. Details on the Marquette house fire can be found on 5A. (Journal photo by Dave Edwards)

MARQUETTE - Spring has sprung - and so has the fire danger.

Department of Natural Resources firefighting crews in the Upper Peninsula have made 13 runs to battle wildfires during the past week, most of them in Delta, Dickinson and Menominee counties.A total of 70 acres burned in those fires, which included two in the southern part of Marquette County - one that burned about 10 acres near Rock on Thursday and another that burned just one-tenth of an acre near Arnold on Friday.These fires are being blamed on debris burning that got out of control, according to DNR resource protection manager Al Keto, who is based in Marquette."The wildfire danger is considered to be very high over the whole U.P. right now," Keto said this morning. "We're in about the fourth day of it being high or very high everywhere. "Weather conditions dictate the danger. Today, the winds are medium, but the humidity is really low."He explained that warmer-than-normal temperatures have melted snow more quickly than usual, especially in open fields and in the southern U.P. Combining that with a high-pressure weather system over Canada's Hudson Bay that is keeping away any significant rain, Keto knows the fire danger will continue unabated for at least several more days, if not longer. He said DNR fire crews in the U.P. are usually kept on high alert until the early part of June.

The situation is similar south of the Mackinac Bridge, where Keto said the fire danger is also high or very high just about everywhere in the Lower Peninsula. DNR officials remind state residents that burn permits are required whenever the ground is not covered with snow, except for campfires or for burning debris in an approved metal barrel with a lid that has holes smaller than three-quarters of an inch in diameter. "Burn permits are granted on a day-by-day basis depending on local conditions," Keto said. "Mostly they're restricted, such as not allowing burning until after 6 p.m." That's usually when winds die down and temperatures are cooler. "Never leave a fire unattended, even for a moment," said Paul Kollmeyer, DNR coordinator for law enforcement and fire prevention based in Lansing. "Improperly extinguished campfires and debris fires have been the leading cause of wildfires, and most fires escape control when left unattended." Burn permits, which are free, can be obtained from any DNR office. When burning debris, Kollmeyer urges residents to have garden tools and a running garden hose or other source of water nearby in case a fire gets out of control.

Marquette Fire Chief Tom Belt said open fires are not allowed within the city limits of Marquette. "We usually have problems with older residents who harken back to the old days when you just burned leaves and branches, but in the city it's illegal," he said. If conditions were to get extremely dangerous, the governor could declare an emergency and prohibit just about any outdoor burning, even smoking outside in areas where a wildfire could start. Keto and all those who fight fires hope it won't come to that. "We still have a ways to go before the trees start budding, and a lot of it depends on Mother Nature," Keto said. "Warm, rainy weather could green things up more quickly, but we'll just have to wait and see."

Ishpeming's old fire truck coming home; Reclaiming history

ISHPEMING - The Ishpeming Fire Department will soon welcome home an antique fire fighting
apparatus more than 40 years after it was sold.

This Article Appeared in The Mining Journal April 2, 2005

Ishpeming fire department has new, improved truck
By JACQUELINE PERRY, Journal Ishpeming Bureau

ISHPEMING - The Ishpeming Fire Department's new truck includes an improved system for combating fires which people involved in a structural fire will be sure to appreciate.

The Pierce Enforcer pumper truck, which recently arrived at the Ishpeming Fire Department, includes a compressed air foam system to extinguish fires rather than using pure water, said Ishpeming firefighter and paramedic Earl Oja.

"The foam is more effective than just using water to put out a fire because it actually smothers the flames," Oja said. "In addition, the system uses a lot less water, which means less water damage to the structure. I've also been told that the foam acts as a cleaning agent. Overall, it's a lot nicer for home owners."

The truck's four-wheel drive feature will also be beneficial.

"We'll be able to access areas we're now in charge of, including the property the city purchased from (Cleveland-Cliffs Inc), said Oja, referring to the 720 acres the city is considering developing. "It will also be useful during the winter months."

The city financed the $332,585 truck through a $40,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant and a 15-year, 4.375-percent loan of $280,000 also from Rural Development. The city funded the remaining $12,585, according to Anita Keto, Ishpeming city treasurer.

Although the fire department has only had the truck for about two weeks, they've already received a number of compliments on it.

"People really seem to like the looks of it, especially the custom American Flag grill," Oja said. "You certainly can't miss it driving down the road, she's a beauty."

The new truck replaces the department's 1982 pumper truck, Oja said.

Victim extracted from wreck
Journal photo by Andy Nelson-Zaleski

This Article appeared in the Mining Journal March 2, 2005

Marquette County Rescue workers use the jaws of life to remove the female driver from her vehicle Tuesday afternoon. The accident took place on U.S. 41 East near Midway Location in Negaunee Township. State police that handled the accident did not release further information this morning.

4 escape blaze, Negaunee man dies in blaze

This Article appeared in the Mining Journal January 28, 2005

PHOTO: Negaunee firefighters enter a still-burning apartment house this morning. The house was destroyed by the fire, which began at approximately 3 a.m. A man who resides at the house was still missing as of press time today. Four other residents in lower floor apartments escaped the blaze when alerted by a neighbor. (Journal photo by Pete Mackin)

By PETE MACKIN, Journal Staff Writer

NEGAUNEE - A Negaunee man was killed when fire broke out in his third-floor apartment early this morning, fire officials said.Four other residents living in lower floor apartments at 618 Lake St. in Negaunee escaped from the blaze. Fire officials believe the fire started in the apartment of the deceased man.A neighbor alerted by smoke reported the fire after 3 a.m. today, Negaunee Fire Chief Tom Gardyko said. The building housed three apartments. The unidentified neighbor roused the residents and they were able to escape unharmed.

"We located the man in his apartment. He was deceased," Gardyko said at about 10:45 this morning. Fire officials were withholding the man's name pending notification of family.

Negaunee firefighters and police, assisted by Ishpeming firefighters and paramedics, had arrived on scene at 3:34 a.m. Marquette County Rescue workers also assisted."It was really going when we got here," Gardyko said. "All of the apartments had smoke alarms, but because the fire was above them on the third floor they didn't go off. A neighbor smelled smoke and alerted them to the fire."

By 8 a.m. this morning the fire was primarily contained, with small flares breaking out along the trim of the decades-old home. A significant section of the roof collapsed on to the third floor, causing firefighters concern about the integrity of the structure."The roof's caved in and we're wondering about the stability of that third floor," Gardyko told State Police Fire Marshal Jeff Hubbard as he arrived on scene.

As Hubbard gathered his gear and prepared to enter the building, firefighters remained in search and rescue mode, sweeping the debris on the third floor for the missing resident. Firefighters discovered the man's body shortly after.

Negaunee Police had put out an all-points-bulletin for the man in hopes he was not home when the fire started.

Eleven-degree temperatures also presented a challenge to firefighters as the spray from their hoses froze to everything not on fire. Inches of frigid water covered the glazed ice route to the scene, making foot traffic precarious.

The four residents who escaped the fire are being housed at the Holiday Inn and the Brentwood Hotel. Officials plan to utilize the Pigs N' Heat fund to help the victims.

As of this morning Hubbard was still investigating on scene. A cause for the blaze has not yet been determined.

This article appeared in the Mining Journal 12/10/2004

By PETE MACKIN, Journal Staff Writer BIG BAY - Investigators are still piecing together a cause for the fatal Big Bay house fire Wednesday morning that destroyed Dutch John's cabin on the Sullivan Truck Trail.

The body of June Catherine Picard, 78, of Big Bay was found inside the remains of the cabin that afternoon by State Police Fire Marshal Jeff Hubbard.

The Marquette County Medical Examiner has not yet determined what caused Picard's death. Picard, a ward of the family for nearly 50 years, was living with Doug and Norma Hammond, who owned the cabin.

Two family dogs, Smokey, a black lab, and Heikki, an airedale were killed in the blaze.

At 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Powell Township firefighters were paged to a brush fire on Huron Mountain Club Road. A passerby had witnessed smoke and fire in the treetops and notified Huron Mountain Club staff, who in turn called 911. At 9:37 a.m., trucks arrived to find the Hammond residence totally engulfed. The Huron Mountain Club Fire Department arrived around the same time and assisted with personnel and a water tanker.

A propane tank and several nearby vehicles were a cause of concern for firefighters as the fire raged, fueled by the cabin's centuries-old red pine and hemlock construction.

Firefighters contained the blaze just after 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. However flames continued to flare up well into Thursday afternoon. The fire marshal continued his investigation at the scene early this morning.

"It's difficult when the building's completely destroyed, but I'm going to look around the site again today," Hubbard said.

This article appeared in the Mining Journal 12/01/2004

BIG BAY - Powell Township Fire and Ambulance crews will dedicate their new emergency services building at noon Saturday. The new structure is located just north of the Powell Township Hall in Big Bay.

In 2004, township residents approved a 1-mill levy to fund the project. The mill will generate around $240,000 over its five-year duration. About $40,000 of that will go toward improving the halfway garage, which houses two fire trucks.

Gary Vargo is an emergency medical technician and a firefighter with Powell Township. He said he hopes township residents know how much the volunteer first responders appreciate their support for this project. "Millages are really, really tough to pass for emergency services, but our community stood behind this project and showed their support for what the volunteers do in the community," "(Former Supervisor) Sarah Pelto really got behind this project. That was key to its success."

The old emergency garage barely fit equipment and crews at the same time."(The project) was purely for space. We literally had no room to walk around the trucks. With this new building we have space for all of our vehicles, including our snowmobile and two rescue sleds," . "There's also office space and room for a mechanic to work."

Following the ribbon cutting, emergency crews plan to host an open house with coffee and snacks.