Three crashers, fire station open houses keep firefighters busy
The Frankenmuth Fire Department responded to six calls for service, three of which were for personal injury accidents outside the city limits.
At 11:14pm Tuesday, June 16, the FFD responded to an injury accident with the Vassar Fire Department at the intersection of Frankenmuth and Sohn roads, Tuscola Township.
FFD Captain Doug VanWormer advised Engine 2 and Squad 4 encountered a van upside down in a ditch, approximately ¼ mile north of the intersection. The lone occupant, a female driver, required extrication from the commercial vehicle, and was transported by MMR Ambulance Service to a Saginaw-area hospital. Fire personnel were also assisted by Frankenmuth Police officers.
Engine 2 was able to clear the scene, however, Squad 4 was utilized to secure the scene until all the contents from inside the van were offloaded to another vehicle. Squad 4 cleared at 1:45am, as Tuscola County law enforcement was tied up in other business. A total of 13 firefighters reported for duty.
At 5:33pm Wednesday, June 17, steam from a shower activated a smoke detector at Covenant Glen, 1040 Grauer Drive. Engine 2 responded, confirmed the issue, and was able to clear the scene within 15 minutes, Nine firefighters traveled to the station.
At 10:28pm Thursday, June 18, a smoke detector activation drew the FFD to a residence in the 900 block of Weiss Street, as residents called Saginaw County Central Dispatch 911.
FFD Lt. Eric MacKinnon noted after checking the home, nothing was found and detector was found to be well beyond the 10-year life cycle of most detectors. Nine firefighters responded, along with FPD officers, and cleared after 25 minutes.
Shortly after 8pm Saturday, June 20, Frankenmuth Fire assisted the FPD and MMR personnel with a medical issue in the 700 block of South Main Street. The five firefighters cleared the scene following the assist after 45 minutes.
At 12:30am Sunday, June 21, the FFD was summoned to help MMR and FPD personnel for an overturned vehicle in a ditch at the corner of Maple and Roedel roads in Frankenmuth Township.
FFD Assistant Chief Dan Schneirla said the lone occupant was a female driver. She required extrication, but refused medical treatment. The FFD used their extrication tools to free her. Squad 4 and fire personnel were able to clear the area after nearly two hours after being dispatched.
Alarm No. 114 took place at 12:24pm Monday, June 22, a call to assist Frankenmuth Police for a three-vehicle crash in 2500 block of South Gera Road – in front of the Gera Tavern. However, prior to calling enroute, firefighters were disregarded. The eight fire personnel who traveled to the station cleared immediately.
In other FFD news, the firefighters held a pair of open houses on Thursday evening and Saturday morning, June 18 and 20, where they greeted over 100 area residents. Members of the FFD Building Committee, firefighters, and Frankenmuth City and Township leaders were on hand to present information about the proposed new station being planned and to showcase the 74-year-old fire hall.
“The lack of necessary space inside the building for firefighters to perform their work was highlighted, along with answering many questions posed by the attendees,” FFD Chief Phil Kerns said.
Michigan State Representative Matthew Bierlein and his wife Mindy visited on Saturday’s open house.
For those unable to take in an open house, the FFD and Frankenmuth City-Township Commission have a link to this information at the website, frankenmuthcity.com. Kerns also noted to contact him at 989-652-9901 should a tour of the station be requested or for additional information.
In conjunction with the open houses, a FFD Station Tour Video was recently released. The eight-minute video was locally produced and released for viewing. It can be found at www.frankenmuthcity.com/news detail T7 R19.php. The You Tube link is www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjAtSi4iw5E.
The FFD is also producing a 30-second teaser video which will be posted on social media soon. It will be linked to the eight-minute video.
�itionally, it is our understanding that the (independent) vote committee is working to develop is own social media and traditional advertising for the vote over the next couple weeks,” Kerns said.
For city residents, the funding for the fire station will come by special assessment. For township citizens, the measure will be placed on the Tuesday, August 4, Primary Election Ballot.
Finally, on Saturday afternoon, June 20, firefighters took Engine 2 to Frankenmuth Jellystone Park Campground Resort on Weiss Street to share fire prevention tips with the campers and display Engine 2.
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