Auto Fest Committee donates $10,000 to FFD for new boat fund
Eight more alarms last week have the Frankenmuth Fire Department poised for a record-breaking year for calls for service.
At 5:41am Wednesday, December 10, the FFD was requested by MMR Ambulance Service to assist on a medical call in the 600 block of Heine Street. Eleven personnel reported, however, the call was disregarded prior to calling en route.
Also on Wednesday, at 10:17am, a low-hanging wire on Frankenmuth Road, near Richville Road in Tuscola Township, drew out the FFD.
FFD Captain Matt Vasicek advised the heavy, wet snowfall caused a communication line to sag and obstruct the roadway for passing, high-profile vehicles.
The department was able to mitigate the issue prior to Charter Communications arriving at the scene. Brush 7 traveled to the scene with 11 firefighters responding, clearing within 30 minutes of the call.
At 9:56am Thursday, December 11, Engine 2 was taken to the Cambridge Park Condominium units for a smoke investigation.
��ortunately, nothing was found and the neighbors were very helpful in getting firefighters access to the unit,” FFD Chief Phil Kerns said.
A total of 19 fire personnel reported and cleared within 40 minutes.
Later that day, at 12:29pm, a fire alarm was reported at a residence in the 10,000 block of Roedel Road, Frankenmuth Township. Engine 1 and 2 traveled to the home and found no issue. A total of 14 firefighters made the trip to the station, clearing within 35 minutes.
Early Friday morning, December 12 at 1:39am, the Clio Area Fire Department summoned the FFD for mutual aid for a commercial fire in the ticket office at Auto City Speedway, 10205 North Saginaw Road, located between Dodge and Vienna roads.
Although the structure was fully engulfed, FFD Assistant Chief Dan Schneirla said Truck 3 was cancelled just as they arrived in Clio. Nine fire personnel responded to this alarm and cleared after one hour.
Also on Friday, at 10:19pm, Saginaw County Central Dispatch 911 dispatched the FFD for a fire alarm at Covenant Glen, 1040 Covenant Drive.
Upon arrival, Covenant staff said a resident had mistakenly pulled a hallway pull station alarm in the west wing and there was no fire. A total of nine firefighters traveled to the fire hall, clearing within 15 minutes.
At 7:02pm, a leaking gas pressure relief valve at a local farm in the 9000 block of Junction Road, Frankenmuth Township. It was freely flowing natural gas.
FFD Captain Doug VanWormer and Engine 2 responded and waited for Consumers Energy crews to respond as it was outside and away from other structures.
Fourteen fire personnel were part of this alarm and cleared 50 minutes later, upon the Consumers crews arriving on the scene.
Alarm No. 220 for 2025 took place at 2:01am Sunday, December 14, for a home in the 900 block of South Main Street with an activated smoke detector.
Eight firefighters with Engine 1 and 2 traveled to the dwelling and checked the residence for carbon monoxide and smoke. The investigation determined it was an aged, faulty detector. Both units cleared 25 minutes after the alarm.
In other FFD news, Captain VanWormer participated in the area first responders Shop with a Hero program at Meijer Store in Birch Run on Tuesday evening, December 9.
"Captain VanWormer was able to spend some quality time with a youngster making rounds in the store, picking out a gift,” Kerns said.
"First responders are thankful for this opportunity as it is a joy to bring smiles to area youths by fulfilling a need,” Kerns added.
The FFD held its annual Christmas Party at Uptown North Main Tuesday, December 9.
During the event, John Compton with the Frankenmuth Auto Fest presented the FFD with a $10,000 donation to be used toward the purchase of a new boat.
The current watercraft is a membrane material that has a limited life and for the past few years, donations have been received to defray the cost of this planned replacement.
“The community has experienced steady growth over the years and the changing needs in the built environment and increased land uses requires us to constantly assess apparatus needs as this happens,” Kerns stated. ��rom building new multi-story structures and increased housing development to larger farm storage needs to ecotourism uses like river recreational uses, our responses to incidents must evolve to address the potential for responses that are growing all around us.”
Looking ahead and preparing for the short-term and long-term needs is constantly being monitored.
“Planning is key to affording replacements and that is our goal. Just like your household, we also plan and budget for future expenses. Firefighters are very appreciative of our local service groups, foundations, and businesses who help us offset expenses with timely donations, all coming from their volunteer work in hosting these events, and we thank you,” Kerns concluded.
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