News photo by Josh Jambor Pictured is the Alpena Township Fire Department’s Southside station. The department released their report for the month of April and offered a reminder to burn cautiously and responsibly as the weather continues to warm up.

ALPENA – The Alpena Township Fire Department released its monthly report to the Alpena Township Board of Trustees for April, showing a modest decline in emergency responses compared to the same period last year while highlighting progress in personnel, equipment upgrades, and outreach efforts.

According to the report, the department handled 70 runs in April. Their year-to-date call volume stands at 321 incidents. That marks a slight decline from the 355 runs recorded for the same period in 2025. Fire officials noted that activity slowed in April after unusually heavy weather-related impacts in March.

One notable incident during the month involved a kitchen fire at the Grant Street Apartments. Crews responded to reports of a small fire caused by an item left inside an oven that was accidentally turned on, melting the item. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze with no extension to the structure and only minimal damage reported.

Additionally, the department responded to a residential structure fire on Bloom Road on April 18, swiftly knocking down the blaze and preventing it from spreading beyond a single bedroom. Interior crews, using portable fire extinguishers, advanced into the home through heavy smoke banking down from the ceiling and rising heat conditions. They located the fire in a second-floor bedroom. A closed door helped limit the fire’s spread, helping to contain the damage to the room of origin.

On the training front, department members continued building readiness across disciplines. Cumulative training hours for the year now total 336 hours. Recent sessions included a wildland firefighting refresher course provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and EMS training focused on autism awareness and geriatric care.

A staffing and personnel update was also included in the report. On May 1 the department welcomed two new full-time firefighters, Noah Romel and Allen Kay, who began onboarding and initial training. Both are progressing through their training phases in preparation for full shift assignments.

Community education and outreach remain a priority for the department. Firefighters Wyatt Smith and Dillan Romstadt have been assigned as the department’s representatives for community education programs, focusing on injury prevention, home fire safety, and fall-risk reduction for older adults. The pair has already completed home safety inspections for township residents.

The department is utilizing the Next Door App and has been posting various items on fire safety, fire prevention tips, etc.

Township residents can schedule home safety inspections at no cost by contacting the Northside Fire Station at 989-356-0297 and asking to speak with Romstadt to set up an appointment.

Given the high risk for wildfires this time of the year, Alpena Township Fire Chief Tim Baker would like to remind residents to burn carefully, make sure open burning is allowed, and follow guidelines provided by the Department of Natural Resources.

“Alpena Township would like to remind residents that open burning is permitted only when done safely and in accordance with State, DNR, and Township regulations,” Baker said. “Please burn natural materials only, never leave a fire unattended, and be sure your burn is fully extinguished before leaving the area.”

“Your cooperation helps protect our community and reduces the risk of wildfires,” Baker added.