News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Alpena Township Fire Department firefighter Jim Stachlewitz inspects the air tanks at the Northside station on Wednesday.

ALPENA — Most structure fires in Alpena Township last year were not effectively managed according to National Fire Protection Association standards, results from an independent study of the Alpena Township Fire Department claims.

A high percentage of the structure fires result in a total loss of the building, the report says. The study says data from prior years point to the same issue.

The report says staffing issues, low training participation, unclear directives, and a poor relationship between fire department employees and township officials are the root causes of the department’s issues.

The township released the results and recommendation from Stone Production, who conducted the internal and external review of the department, at a special meeting on Tuesday, urging immediate action from the township to address shortcomings with the department.

Alpena Township Fire Chief Mark Hansen, who is retiring in September, said he sent the consultant a list of rebuttals to some of the findings in the report and is awaiting clarification in return.

To remedy the ongoing issues, Stone Production and the township must pursue joint ventures with neighboring departments as soon as possible with the understanding that it may take time to determine the best alternatives.

The study says when township voters twice declined a millage request for fire operations in 2022, it handcuffed the township and stifled it from growth and hiring needed personnel.

“Based upon our observations and the fact that two millage proposals failed, evidence indicates that the ATFD will not be able to meet the community’s needs without an influx of resources,” the report says.

Alpena Township Supervisor Nathan Skibbe said he believed the report was well done and very encompassing.

He said there were data and operational points that were new to the township trustees, but other facts that officials already were aware of.

“It was comprehensive, but some of the input provided we already knew,” he said. “Now, we will thoroughly review it and move to make strategic improvements to enhance the department.”

The study was designed to bolster the department’s mission of providing the community with fire suppression, rescue, fire prevention, and emergency medical services through an unbiased set of eyes.

Hansen said although there were parts of the report that he believes can be useful to the department and township officials, he said there were other parts that raised eyebrows and questions. Hansen added the tone of the report, and the commentary about the department during the meeting, was less harsh than the verbiage in the text in the study’s findings.

“We sent a list of rebuttals and are waiting for a response and clarification about my concerns with parts of the report,” Hansen said. “Overall, I think the report was satisfactory and I also believe there are things the department can benefit from. At the meeting, they were much more competitive and positive of the department than what appears in the report.”

The study reviewed and drew conclusions about various subjects regarding the department and offered a recommendation for each that fits the community profile.

STAFFING

When the report was completed, the fire department’s staff consisted of six full-time firefighters, each holding a minimum of an Emergency Medical Technician certification, and 13 paid on-call firefighters with Emergency Medical Service credentials and Hansen. Currently, the positions of assistant chief and captain are vacant.

The fire staff operates from two stations, one on State Avenue and another on U.S.-23 North, and each assists and responds together when needed.

The report said a fire department staffing shortage is not uncommon and many departments around the nation struggle to recruit employees.

To help take some of the pressure off the full-time firefighters, the report recommends utilizing the paid-on-call staff more often. The report also says the township needs to set better response expectations for the paid-on-call staff.

“Implement a policy requiring paid-on-call staff to work a minimum of 24 hours on shift per month, strategically scheduled based on peak times for emergency responses,” the report says.

The consultant also says all paid-on-call forest responders would be required to respond to a minimum of 24% of calls.

A further recommendation included running fire and medical response operations from one station.

TRAINING

The data in the report says the township has incomplete records of which employees have completed or missed training opportunities. According to the report, only 60% of employees have participated in training when the recommended standard is 80%.

“Our review of the training records has highlighted gaps in several key operational areas; however, it is important to note that this list is not all-inclusive,” the report says. “Examples of identified gaps include driver training, ventilation techniques, CPR, and insufficient professional development for fire officers. These are just a few areas where enhancements are needed to bolster the department’s operational readiness and safety.”

To resolve the issue, the report recommends developing and enforcing performance standards for basic firefighting skills, requiring all members to don protective clothing within 90 seconds and ensuring hose deployment within two minutes of arrival at a fire scene.

The report also suggested mandating that all personnel attend at least 80% of scheduled training sessions annually to ensure continuous skill development and preparedness and define minimum certification requirements for all personnel based on their job roles, ensuring compliance with state regulations and addressing internal needs.

Hansen said he initially sent the consultant logs with training data that were only partially compiled. He said he forwarded complete data before the study was completed and he believes the additional information is not factored into the final results.

BUILDING TRUST

Stone Production said a rocky relationship between fire department staff, the trustees, and other township officials must be improved in order to overcome current and future challenges. The consultant’s report reflects the discussions with the trustees, fire department employees, and a few citizens.

“The department and board of trustees must address their working relationship to progress,” the report says. “Over time, trust has deteriorated, and this must be restored as soon as possible so that these two groups can work as a team to address the issues being faced. Fostering collaboration and communication among stakeholders is crucial for successful implementation.”

Distrust and drama are not new to the township and go back many years. Tensions mounted between administration and the fire department in 2020, when a plan to hand over operational control of the township department to the Alpena Fire Department due to a staffing shortage and cost savings. In the end, the trustees voted against the service contract with the city. However, the board of trustees continues to explore options that will ensure the viability of the department long-term, which causes fire department employees to look over their shoulders wondering if their jobs are safe.

“It really lowers morale and increases stress,” Hansen said. “What I think we need to do is all sit down at the table and have open and honest discussions.”

Skibbe said he is hopeful the fractured relationship can be rebuilt. He said as discussions begin to plan for the future of the department, and any changes that will be implemented, employees and residents will have their voices heard.

“I think every problem has a solution,” Skibbe said. “As we move forward, the fire committee will have public input sessions with staff and the community to see what services they want and see what they will cost. We all have to work together.”

Skibbe’s opponent for the August primary election, Abbi Kaszubowski, has been a strong supporter of the fire department and vocal about the support it needs from the trustees and its importance to public safety. She said the partnership needs much work, but she is hopeful that the two sides can put the past behind them and work toward a future where everyone gets along. To achieve that, Kaszubowski said someone from outside the township may need to become involved and work as a middleman.

“The relationship between the fire department and the township officials is dismal at best. There is a major disconnect in communication and trust which stems back at least the last eight years,” she said. “I believe the relationship is not only salvageable but has a major potential to grow in ways the township has never seen before. At this point, I firmly believe an unbiased mediator is necessary to keep conversations on track and allow concepts from both sides to become tangible and unified.”

CALL VOLUME

In 2023, the department responded to 1,140 calls for service, averaging 3.1 runs per day. The department’s responses include 33 fires, including 21 structure fires, seven vehicle fires, and five brush fires. There were 900 EMS-related calls: 65 motor vehicle accidents, five rescue or extrication responses, and 830 basic life support responses.

The township is also subject to several mutual aid agreements that pledge assistance to other municipalities for large emergencies and ensure help for the township when other resources or additional help is needed.

The complete report on the township fire department department is available on the township’s website at www.alpenatownship.com.

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