A member of the Frankenmuth Fire Department snapped this photo Friday night after a crew was sent to a Saginaw County grain storage business to fight a massive fire in one of the grain bins. About a half-dozen Tuscola County fire departments joined responders from around the state in fighting the blaze, which was still smoldering as of Tuesday afternoon
RICHLAND TWP. — Emergency crews from around the state have helped area fire departments in battling a fire at a grain storage facility in northwest Saginaw County. And volunteers from multiple Tuscola County departments have stepped up as well.
The fire, at The Andersons Inc., an agricultural storage and supply facility at 486 S. Hemlock Road near Hemlock, began at about 10 p.m. Sunday. Since then, dozens of fire crews have been on scene fighting the blaze, which – as of Tuesday afternoon – was still burning.
The Richland Township Fire Department reported that the fire was about 95 percent contained as of Monday morning, but could continue to smolder for days. More than 30 fire departments from surrounding counties have arrived on scene to offer aid.
According to Tuscola County Emergency Services Director Steve Anderson, at least a half-dozen county fire departments have joined the effort.
During the day on Monday, Anderson said, a request for assistance was made, with the Akron-Columbia-Wisner-Unionville, Reese, Mayville, Caro, Gagetown/Elmwood Township, Richville and Vassar fire departments delivering water tanker trucks to the fire.
On Tuesday, tankers from Caro, Elkland Township, Reese and Mayville delivered loads of water to the site. The Frankenmuth Fire Department sent multiple trucks – including its aerial firefighting ladder truck – to the fire scene Sunday night, and for several hours on Monday and Tuesday.
The Frankenmuth Fire Department reported the main bin that caught fire holds about three million bushels – or about 168 million pounds – of corn.
The Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was sounded and emergency resources from at least 14 Michigan counties have been utilized, according to information Anderson received from the MABAS.
