Partridge Avenue garage a total loss after Thursday fire
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ALPENA - A large garage located at 205 Partridge Ave. was destroyed by fire Thursday afternoon, with crews citing heavy involvement on arrival and smaller water mains in the older subdivision that prompted an early call for tanker support.
Township fire units were dispatched at about 2:15 p.m. Thursday to the reported structure fire. Engine 2 from the Alpena Township Fire Department's Southside Station responded immediately because Northside units were already committed to another incident on El Cajon Beach Road. While en route, crews saw a large column of black smoke and requested an additional engine and a chief officer from the Alpena Fire Department.
Township Engine 2 and Alpena City Fire Chief 1 were first on scene. Facing heavy fire and limited initial staffing, crews began an aggressive offensive attack to knock down the blaze and protect nearby homes in the densely built neighborhood. A unified command was established between the township and city departments.
Within three minutes, a city engine arrived and secured a hydrant about 200 feet from the structure to supply the attack lines. Because the area is an older subdivision with smaller water mains, a second alarm was requested at 2:19 p.m. That brought an engine and tender from Alpena CRTC and a tender from the Maple Ridge Fire Department to help with water shuttle operations and manpower.
Firefighters also dealt with multiple power lines and poles compromised by heat and flame. They worked to operate safely, protect exposures and salvage property where possible. Despite the coordinated effort, the garage and its contents were declared a total loss because of the significant fire involvement before arrival. About 18 firefighters and command staff operated for roughly two hours before units were released. No injuries were reported.
The Alpena Township Fire Department issued a press release Monday confirming the total loss and the role of mutual aid.
"The structure has been declared a total loss due to the extent of fire involvement prior to arrival," Fire Chief Tim Baker said. "Mutual aid from Alpena City Fire Department, Alpena CRTC and Maple Ridge Fire Department played a critical role in containing the fire and protecting nearby homes."
Baker said smaller mains are common in parts of the township, especially in neighborhoods built many years ago.
"Portions of Alpena Township have older and smaller water mains, particularly in neighborhoods developed many years ago," he said. "This is not uncommon for communities with aging infrastructure."
Main sizes vary by neighborhood. Older areas may have 4-inch mains, while newer developments typically have 6-inch or larger lines. Larger mains provide better flow and pressure for firefighting, Baker said, but not every part of the township was built to modern standards.
The township and the city have had ongoing discussions about long-term water system improvements, with main replacement usually handled through capital planning and budgeting. Such upgrades require significant funding and must be balanced against other infrastructure needs, Baker said.
When hydrant flow is limited, crews rely on contingency plans that include adjusting tactics, securing additional water sources or starting water shuttle operations with tenders. Those practices are common in rural and semi-urban departments and allow safe, effective operations even when hydrant flow is not optimal, Baker said.
The issue does not create frequent problems, he said, but it can shape decisions in certain neighborhoods. When lower flow is expected, crews may position apparatus differently, lay additional supply lines or call mutual-aid tenders earlier. Firefighters train for those scenarios, and automatic and mutual-aid partners provide the needed resources, Baker said.
Additional updates will be released as more information becomes available, he said. The department thanked its mutual aid partners for their rapid response, which helped prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes.