Alpena Township Fire Department outlines staffing and training priorities for rest of 2026
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ALPENA – The Alpena Township Fire Department is sharpening its focus on staffing stability, professional growth, and stronger regional partnerships as it heads into the final months of 2026, Fire Chief Tim Baker reported ahead of the board of trustees' monthly meeting Monday.
July brought 107 calls for service, down from 125 in the same month a year earlier. Year-to-date activity reached 811 incidents. Medical emergencies continued to dominate, accounting for 83 calls in the period and 578 for the year. Other categories included eight false alarms, five fire calls, four personal-injury accidents, three service calls, two "other" responses, one mutual-aid run and one hazardous-conditions incident. There were no vehicle or vegetation fires.
Training remained a steady priority. Formal sessions pushed cumulative hours past 660 for the year and covered pediatric assessments, hydrant connections and supply-hose lays, BLS protocol upgrades, and respiratory emergencies.
Baker attended Fire-Rescue International and completed coursework in the International Association of Fire Chiefs Officer Development Programs, Executive Fire Officer track, which emphasizes strategic planning, leadership and community risk reduction.
Maintenance work kept apparatus and stations ready. A routine check of Engine 2 uncovered significant battery corrosion, weak charge levels and one battery that was actively off-gassing and swelling. Alpena Diesel Repair replaced all six batteries for $1,502.96, restoring the engine to full service. At Southside Station, G&K Plumbing and Heating fixed a malfunctioning toilet and leaking shower.
Community outreach stayed active. Firefighters visited a daycare for an age-appropriate safety demonstration, staffed a public-education booth at the Brown Trout Festival and installed nearly 100 smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors as part of the department's home-safety program.
Looking ahead, Baker listed four priorities that flow directly from the department's mission of protecting lives and property and its vision of delivering outstanding service with a professionally trained staff: strengthening the roster through paid-on-call recruitment, advancing leadership development and cross-training, expanding fire-prevention and CPR outreach, and finalizing Mutual Aid Box Alarm System agreements with all Alpena County fire agencies.
Staffing and recruitment remain the most pressing of those priorities. Baker said the department has spent the past year deliberately shaping a workplace culture grounded in professionalism and continuous improvement.
"Over the past year, we have placed substantial effort into building a culture that values professionalism, integrity, and continuous improvement," he said. "While staff responses have been mixed, the department remains committed to clearly defining expectations, improving morale, and elevating performance standards."
Paid-on-call firefighters form a critical part of that strategy. "Ongoing outreach for Paid-On-Call personnel remains essential," Baker said. "These members increase staffing stability and play a vital role in local resiliency."
Retention efforts center on giving current members clearer pathways and stronger support. "By offering better training, clear expectations, and opportunities to grow, we aim to foster pride in service and strengthen commitment," he said.
Baker acknowledged the work is not finished.
"A cultural shift toward excellence requires dedication and sacrifice," Baker added. "As we continue reinforcing positive norms, accountability, and respect, we are building a foundation for long-term success."
Baker closed with a straightforward message to residents.
"The Alpena Township Fire Department is progressing. While cultural change takes time, the groundwork has been laid for a stronger, more unified, and more professionally driven organization," Baker said. "Our staff continues to grow, our recruitment efforts are expanding, and we remain committed to providing outstanding service to the Charter Township of Alpena and the surrounding communities."
The trustees are expected to review the monthly report at its next regular meeting on Monday at 6 p.m. Residents interested in free smoke or carbon-monoxide detectors, community training or joining the paid-on-call ranks can contact the department at 989-356-0297.