Courtesy Photo Debris from the former Decorative Panels International plant(DPI) lies on the ground, as demolition work is now underway. The old saw mill was closed in 2024 and sold earlier this year.

ALPENA — A large fire at the former Decorative Panels International (DPI) plant in Alpena on Tuesday filled the air with thick, black smoke for miles.

The fire was reported shortly after 3 p.m. and firefighters arrived to attack the blaze. Contractors who were working on the demolition of the building were all accounted for, according to scanner communications.

Crews have been busy working on demolition of the plant to ready the property for future development.

Alpena Deputy Fire Chief Andy Marceau said the demo crew was shearing metal when it caused a spark that ignited the heavy dust particles that had accumulated in the facility over the years. The amount of dust present, combined with strong winds off the lake, caused the fire to intensify and spread rapidly

The dismantling of the old saw mill is another step in the process, which also includes extensive environmental remediation, towards reimagining that area of Alpena.

Mike Mahler, economic development director for the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, said removing the plant from the property, which was purchased by Melching Inc., a Norton Shores company in January, is a key piece in the plan toward making the land marketable for investors.

“This is a huge step and a step closer to having a viable location,” Mahler said. “When everything is done, potential developers will be able to see the property without the old plant on it. Once complete, developers will have a clean slate to work with.”

At the time of the purchase of the plant, Melching Inc. said it would likely take about 18 months to remove the plant and remediate the pollution it caused to the land. Mahler said he is unsure if that timeline has changed.

In a January press release, Melching Inc. said it was going to hire an environmental consultant to help navigate safe redevelopment of the site. The company communicated with city representatives to better understand local development initiatives and planned to continue seeking input from local stakeholders.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has discovered significant contamination to the soil and groundwater.

In January of this year, EGLE provided an update to City Council regarding the severity of the pollution on the property, and announced it discovered both Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOA) and a specific Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in the groundwater at the site.

According to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, six groundwater tests were taken, and four of them showed the level of PFOA nearly doubled the state maximum limit for groundwater.

The state standard for PFOA is eight-parts per trillion and some of the groundwater sampled was recorded at or about 14.9 ppt. One part per trillion is the equivalent of about thirty seconds out of a million years.

The appearance of the manmade chemicals in the groundwater will not impact drinking water in Alpena because water is supplied by the city’s water plant and the system is contained. The city had its drinking water tested and EGLE says PFAS levels were not detected in any of those tests.

The environmental clean-up is the responsibility of DPI, the state said at the meeting in January.

In February of 2024, DPI announced the closure of its Alpena plant and laid off more than 150 employees.

In December of 2024, the Alpena Municipal Council rezoned the property on Ford Avenue from heavy industrial to waterfront, which the city hopes will spur mixed-use development along the shores of Thunder Bay on the northern end of town. The move was done to help improve quality of living standards for people who live in the area near the plant and to thwart any chance another large factory would open at the same location.

The council envisions a mix of residential properties and small businesses in the area where the plant remains inoperable today, though it could be years before those visions become a reality.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.