Chicken coop fire is first alarm of 2026 for Frankenmuth Fire Dept.
Alarm No. 28 finished off a record-setting year of 2025 for the Frankenmuth Fire Department.
Fortunately, this alarm at 9:17pm Wednesday, December 31, the FFD was disregarded when they arrived at the scene after being requested by MMR Ambulance Service for a medical assist at Winter Village, 255 Mayer Road.
Nine personnel reported for this final call for service for the year 2025.
FFD Chief Phil Kerns reflected on the past 365 days for his department, as the 228 alarms surpassed the 2024 total of 221 fire runs.
“I commend Frankenmuth’s team of firefighters for their response to calls, and our mutual aid partner, for a busy year with some substantial losses,” Kerns said. “You can never get used to watching the suffering of victims and our thoughts and prayers go out to them as they recover and put the pieces back together.”
While the alarms varied from structure fires to vehicular crashes, to medical calls to the occasional false alarm, the FFD was blessed with only a few minor injuries to their personnel.
𠇏ortunately, injuries were minor as firefighters strongly urge the public to make sure their smoke and CO detectors are working and not more than 10 years old,” Kerns stated.
The chief also recommended for the last person exiting to close doors behind them when leaving a structure that has smoke and/or fire. Wait outside in a safe location for first responders to arrive.
The first alarm of 2026 took place at 7:33pm Thursday, January 1, when the FFD was dispatched to a small chicken coop that had erupted in flames and was a total loss in the 8000 block of West Tuscola Road, near Maple Road, Frankenmuth Township.
“The homeowner was away and arrived at the scene and was able to extinguish the remaining flames,” Kerns said.
FFD Assistant Chief Dan Schneirla said Engine 1 and Engine 2 responded and that luckily, no exposures were close enough to ignite as the neighbors reported it to be quite an inferno.
A total of 20 firefighters reported and conducted an overhaul and the six hens inside did not survive. A heat lamp was likely the source of the blaze. Fire personnel remained at the scene for approximately one hour.
At 2:12am Saturday, January 3, the FFD traveled to the 7300 block of East Curtis Road for a single-vehicle, non-injury accident involving a utility pole.
Upon arrival, the pole and communication pedestal had been struck. Other than localized power outage, there was no hazard.
Engine 2 and Squad 4 were called to the crash site with nine firefighters responding, clearing 45 minutes later.
In other FFD news, the end of the month training and meeting was held Tuesday, December 30. Fire personnel reviewed the new fire station planning currently underway and an assessment of needs as TSSF Architects work on preliminary plans for the new hall.
Additionally, table top exercises were conducted on a residential house scenario and operation goals. FFD Mom Karen Weiss provided the firefighters with a festive dessert after a fire crew prepared a grilled meal.
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