Today's fires contain more cancer-causing agents
Three medical calls, a water flow break, and staffing Zehnder’s Snowfest 2026 made up the five alarms answered by the Frankenmuth Fire Department last week.
At 8:38am Thursday, January 29, the FFD was requested by MMR Ambulance Service at Wellspring Lutheran Services, 725 West Genesee Street, for a medical call. A total of 14 fire personnel reported and Squad 4 assisted. They were able to clear the scene 30 minutes later.
About one hour later, at 9:43am, a fire suppression system flow alarm was activated at Frankenmuth River Place Shops, 925 South Main Street.
FFD Captain Branson Schmitzer said the maintenance crew was handling the matter upon their arrival as a water line break occurred due to the cold weather. Engine 2 and Truck 3 responded, with 15 firefighters traveling to the station. They cleared shortly after 10am.
Also on Thursday. At 3:22pm, MMR Ambulance request FFD assistance at Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, 730 South Main Street, for a medical call.
FFD Assistant Chief Dan Schneirla said upon arrival, MMR no longer needed the fire department’s service. Thirteen fire personnel reported for duty.
At 8:24am Friday, January 30, an employee at Auto Value Auto Parts, 337 North Main Street requested the FFD for a possible carbon monoxide (CO) leak after feeling weak inside the business.
Schneirla and a dozen fire personnel reported, the building was checked for CO, but nothing was found. Engine 2 cleared after 25 minutes on the scene.
Alarm No. 16 for 2026 took place at 6:16pm when the Frankenmuth Police Department requested assistance with a medical call between Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth and the Bavarian Inn Restaurant for a struck young child.
FFD Lt. Eric MacKinnon reported Squad 4 and the department’s EMRs assisted the FPD and MMR, clearing within 20 minutes. A total of 15 firefighters answered the bell.
In other FFD news, fire personnel provided assistance to the Frankenmuth Police by staffing a medical unit at the 35th annual Zehnder’s Snowfest.
Firefighters provided over 20 hours of volunteer service. Over the weekend, the FFD handled three medical calls both on and off site, with only one taking place on the fest grounds – a slip and fall. Firefighters also assisted FPD officers to alleviate their busy time managing vehicle and pedestrian traffic and other Snowfest duties.
While responding to the River Place Shops incident, Truck 3 threw a belt, resulting in the truck limping back to the station after responding to that call.
“Our contracted service techs were called, and the apparatus was out of service for 24 hours while the belt was ordered and installed Friday afternoon,” FFD Chief Phil Kerns said.
Firefighting and cancer took precedence at last months training, consisting of more breathing apparatus reviews, as it is a vital piece of personal protective equipment (PPE).
“In addition to many carcinogens, another hazardous chemical that also off gasses at modern fires, due to plastics, is hydrogen cyanide and it can really cause a heart attack and/or immediate cardiac arrest,” Kerns pointed out. “Not only is breathing in these gasses potentially deadly, but so are the particulates in the air and soot left on PPE and equipment.”
Firefighters need to protect their respiratory system using self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs), and properly decontaminating all equipment before it is placed back into service – the sooner the better.
Today’s residential fire have more in common with hazmat events than house fires due to materials in common homes such as plastics and synthetics. Commercial and vehicle fires have highly concentrated toxicants and dumpster fires contain completely unknown substances and toxicants.
“Prevention is key both on the fireground and in the fire station, as well as personally with our health,” Kerns stated.
In partnership between the Firefighter Cancer Support Network and the International Association of Firefighters, the month of January was designated as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. NIOSH conducted a study of 30,000 fire personnel and occupational cancer. The results were a 9-percent higher chance of firefighters being diagnosed with cancer than the general public.
Multiple studies, NIOSH, LeMasters, have repeatedly demonstrated credible evidence and biologic credibility for statistically higher rates of multiple types of cancer in firefighters compared to the general American population, including testicular (2.02 times greater), multiple myeloma (1.53 times) Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (1.51 times), skin cancer (1.39 times), prostrate cancer (1.28 times), malignant melanoma (1.31 times), brain cancer (1.31 times), colon cancer (1.21 times), Leukemia (1.14 times), and breast cancer in women, six times the national average.
“Of course, regular medical exams are essential in early detection for everyone. Although the FFD performs initial decontamination of these items while on scene, weather permitting, we must do more thorough decontamination back at the station, but space inside the stations is at a premium, and non-existent during cold weather as the water in the apparatus will freeze and other equipment needs to thaw,” Kerns said.
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