Courtesy photo Firefighters Andy Marceau, Lee Babcock, Chris Kinsey, and Dean Rivard work to extinguish remaining hotspots and overhaul a burned structure amid rising smoke. Personnel from Alpena, Alpena Township, and Long Rapids Township responded to the Mapes Fire in Oscoda County on Monday.

ALPENA – Firefighters from the Alpena Fire Department and Alpena Township Fire Department joined the response to a fast-moving wildfire in neighboring Oscoda County near Mio on Monday, as high winds and dry conditions fueled rapid spread across the region.

The blaze, known as the Mapes Fire, ignited east of Mio near Mapes Road amid a Red Flag Warning that covered much of Northern Michigan, including Alpena and Oscoda Counties. Strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation drove the fire, which grew to approximately 90 acres before containment efforts intensified.

The blaze was firmly contained as of Tuesday afternoon.

Alpena Fire Chief Andy Marceau talked about the department’s response to the Mapes Fire, provided a brief timeline of what transpired, and how the Alpena firefighters got involved.

“They had multiple wildfires in the Mio area due to the wind, the fire that we were on was caused by a downed power line, causing the forest to catch fire,” Marceau said. “About 4:30 p.m. they put out a MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) activation for an engine strike team, and a tender strike team.”

“I am very proud to say we were able to respond to both of those requests,” Marceau added.

Alpena Township Fire Chief Tim Baker explained what happened once that MABAS call went out, and how personnel and equipment from the township’s department became involved in the response effort.

“The Alpena County Chiefs Association started making contacts to see if any teams from Alpena County could be formed,” Baker said. “Chief Marceau from the City had an engine and personnel ready and Alpena Township was able to supply a tender with one firefighter.”

Local mutual aid played a key role in the response. Alpena and township fire departments are part of Michigan’s MABAS (MI-MABAS), dispatched personnel and equipment to support on-scene crews by building containment lines with engines and dozers.

“The City of Alpena sent me as command and three personnel, plus engine two which has wildland fire fighting capabilities,” Marceau said. “Alpena Township was able to get their tender to go with one personnel, and to make a crew they added a firefighter from Long Rapids Fire Department.”

During the ice storm last year, the Alpena fire department utilized MABAS to help secure more ambulances and other municipalities stepped up to help.

Fire crews from Alpena focused mainly on structural fires and protecting communities while federal and state wildland firefighters, including U.S. Forest Service crews, led containment on the main blaze.

“We did not do much wildland fire fighting, that was left to the federal forest firefighters, we went over there with a focus more on structural fires,” Marceau explained. “We had our engine with four people from the city, and then we had a tender which had 3,000 gallons of water on it, so we could support the forest service by trying to save structures.”

“All of us got there around 7:30 last night and we slept in our vehicles all night and sat point, watching for any fire extension or flare ups,” Marceau added.

Unlike a typical local call that might last an hour or two, wildland fire assignments frequently involve multi-day commitments. Prior to responding to the Mapes fire, Marceau explained what he had to consider in order to make sure the city and township of Alpena would be covered in case they must respond to an emergency locally.

“I must look at what is going on in our county at the time, that is the first thing to consider, and at the time we did not have anything active,” Marceau said. “Then we consider staffing, can we take one truck and four individuals, so before we even left, I made sure city fire was staffed appropriately.”

“We also work with our partners, Alpena Township, to make sure if either of us has to respond to a situation we can assist each other,” Marceau added.

Marceau wants to make it clear, without a team effort, this type of response to a wildfire in a neighboring county would not be possible.

“This is a team effort, this is not just the City of Alpena Fire Department doing this, this is a team effort along with Alpena Township, and Long Rapids Township,” Marceau said. “Next time it could be another group of individuals going from our county.”

Local personnel that responded to the Mapes Fire returned to their respective fire departments at approximately 10am, Tuesday morning.

Fire Fighters that responded include: Alpena Chief Andy Marceau), Alpena firefighter Lee Babcock, Alpena firefighter Chris Kinsey, Alpena firefighter Dean Rivard, and Alpena Township firefighter Mark Johnson, and Ethan Himes who is a firefighter for Long Rapids Township.