Frankenmuth Fire Department has record year for calls for service
A smoke investigation, a mutual aid assist, and downed trees and branches made up some of the four calls for service by the Frankenmuth Fire Department last week.
For the year 2025, the FFD has answered 227 alarms as of press time (December 31). This will be a record-breaking year for the firefighters in terms on answering calls.
At 8:16am Tuesday, December 23, a concerned resident called Saginaw County Central Dispatch 911 for a smoke investigation in the 700 block of West Tuscola Street.
After checking the household, no hazards were found and a faulty detector which was aged was most likely the issue. Engine 2 and Engine 1 were able to clear within 25 minutes, with 17 firefighters reporting for duty.
At 9:55am Friday, December 26, the FFD was sent to an unknown injury accident in the 9000 block of Ormes Road, near Lewis Road, near the Saginaw-Tuscola county line.
Fire crews arrived to find out it was a slide-off crash with no one in the vehicle.
FFD Chief Phil Kerns advised the area roads were very slick from the rain and ice and the small red car suffered minor damage. Squad 4 and Engine 1 went to the scene and cleared by 10:30am. Sixteen fire personnel traveled to the fire station.
Later that day, at 5:10pm, the FFD responded to a call for burning tree branches in the 11000 block of King Road, near Block Road, in Frankenmuth Township.
Firefighters were unable to locate the fire as the caller had left the area and no fire was found. FFD Captain Doug VanWormer said the crew utilized their thermal imaging camera and were able to located the exact location to aid Consumers Energy in addressing the issue.
Engine 2 was able to clear within 45 minutes, with a dozen fire personnel reporting.
Alarm No. 225 occurred at 12:16am Monday, December 29, for a tree on fire in the 7000 block of South Dehmel Road. The Engine 2 crew eventually found the source in a stand of trees and brush just south of Warnick Road.
The fire personnel advised Consumers Energy that a tree had fallen on primary wires, causing a localized power outage. Eight firefighters reported and cleared within 35 minutes.
Also, during the gusty Monday morning, the FFD responded to two more calls. The first took place at 10:54am for a downed power line and street light at the corner of East Genesee Street and Block roads.
The FFD responded to find the pole blocking half of East Genesee Street, with vehicular traffic driving around the street light, which was still lit.
Fire personnel removed the pole to the north side of the road, secured it with cones and tape, and contacted Consumers Energy.
Before clearing the scene, the firefighters were summoned by the Vassar Fire Department for a mutual aid call at 11:11am assistance with a tree that fell on a house in the 6400 block of Sohn Road.
There was reported smoke in the house from the fallen tree which toppled a wire and caused an electrical surge in the home.
The FFD arrived to find MMR Ambulance Service at the scene, with the VFD shortly behind. Squad 4 stayed at East Genesee Street. Engine 1 also responded to Sohn Road, and the Richville Fire Department was also activated. DTW was called to hand the wire issue. All units cleared after one hour, with 19 firefighters reporting the station.
Additionally, Frankenmuth Police officers handled a pair of downed wire calls internally after receiving call from the Frankenmuth City Department of Public Works (DPW).
“Minimizing area power outages doesn’t come by luck. The FFD is reminding residents to have licensed and skilled tree trimming crews clear brush and trees away from private power lines servicing the property and that local governments continually work with public agencies to address overgrowth issues. Please take some time to survey your property to determine if trimming or removing trees, especially dead and diseased ones, is prudent, before they become an issue,” Kerns said.
On Tuesday, December 30, the FFD held its last end of the month meeting and training. He also added that two private fireworks displays, lasting several minutes, will usher in the New Year at 11:59pm at Both Zehnder’s Splash Village and Bavarian Blast waterparks.
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