Update: Fire at Decorative Panels International in Alpena
Friday, evening heavy winds contributed to the fire at DPI. Firefighters and DPI staff worked well into the night controlling the fires in the cooker tower and two other buildings.
Over the weekend fires continued to smolder in a large area of woodchips and scrap material. Alpena Fire Department Lt. Chris Morrison said, “as of today, June 20, the rain has definitely helped out the rain at DPI it’s been controlled the whole time just smoldering smoking unfortunately on Saturday the wind changed and blew off the lake towards Ford Ave Northside area.”
The Alpena Fire Department is closely watching the fire to ensure the safety of the public.
Lt. Morrison said, “that has made it smoky maybe a little hazy and a little smell but there was not out of control fire. It was controlled at the backside of the DPI and fire watch was taking place. We kept an eye on it about every four hours we’d take a ride back over there to make sure everything was staying safe.”
Water has been applied continuously since Friday and with the wind shift Sunday morning that made the fire much more noticeable. As of now, the fire poses no threat to the surrounding area given the current weather conditions.
