Nightingale Lanes fire in Burton sends cloud of smoke over Flint area

VIDEO/PHOTOS: A major fire in Burton is sending a massive column of smoke over the Flint area Friday morning. The fire was reported around 6:30 a.m. at the former Nightingale Lanes in the 4400 block of Davison Road. The fire is located across from the GM Davison Road Processing Center. Reports from 911 indicate that people driving by have observed flames shooting out of the building. The Burton Fire Department requested mutual aid from several Genesee County fire departments. The roof appeared to collapse by 7:30 a.m. and the walls were starting to cave in. Davison Road was closed to all traffic between Center and Genesee roads while fire crews responded to the blaze, according to the Genesee County 911 Communications Center. Nightingale Lanes permanently closed its doors back in 2012.
WJRT-TV ABC 12 Flint

59-year-old woman found dead after house fire in Flushing Township

A 59-year-old woman was found dead inside her residence in Flushing Township after a fire Wednesday evening. Flushing Fire Chief Jim Michael said neighbors reported the fire around 5:55 p.m. in the 8000 block of Dunham Street, which runs north of Mt. Morris Road east of Nichols Road. The first fire crews on the scene found smoke and flames. Firefighters found the woman's body in the kitchen, which is where they believe the fire started. However, a specific cause of the fire remained under investigation Thursday morning. Fire crews brought the flames under control within an hour, but they remained on the scene well into Wednesday evening to douse hot spots and start the investigation. Authorities did not identify the woman who died.
WJRT-TV ABC 12 Flint

Grand Blanc Township Fire Department plans centennial celebrations

On Dec. 9, 1920, a grease spill on a kerosene stove ignited a fire in the basement of the Grand Blanc consolidated school. The blaze proved to be too much for the neighbors who formed a bucket brigade, and the building burned to the ground. It was then that a group of Grand Blanc business owners decided the community needed its own fire department. And, some time in 1924, they purchased a new Ford Model T fire truck and the volunteer fire department was officially formed to serve Grand Blanc, Atlas and Mundy townships. This year, the Grand Blanc Township Fire Department will celebrate its centennial with two major events starting with the Firefighter for a Day 5K Run/Walk and festivities on International Firefighters Day, Saturday, May 4, at Creasey Bicentennial Park.
Swartz Creek View

Second major fire in 8 hours reported at Flint Township apartments

PHOTO: A fire at Sunridge Apartments in Flint Township forced several people out of their residences overnight. A second fire broke out in the same complex about eight hours later on Thursday morning. The first fire was reported just after midnight Thursday when a resident returned home to find their apartment in flames. Flames spread to the attic and heavily damaged buildings 500 and 600. Seven fire departments from around Genesee County responded to help crews extinguish the flames. Fire officials at the scene could not confirm whether anyone was injured. Several fire departments returned to the complex around 8 a.m. Thursday for a second major fire. Flint Township officials called in fire departments from around Genesee County to battle the flames again.
WJRT-TV ABC 12 Flint

1918 Republic Fire Truck now on display in Bay City

PHOTOS: Dale Bash couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Bash, chairman of the Antique Toy & Fire Museum, a volunteer non-profit organization with a keen eye for history and education, was at the museum’s new facility on Sunday, April 21 in downtown Bay City to open its doors for its first exhibit: a 1918 Republic Fire Truck. Joined by fellow museum volunteers Mike, Nick and Justin Ruegsegger, Bash was struck by how many people stopped to take pictures of the fire truck as they backed it into the newly restored Victorian fire station. “It was amazing,” Bash said. “There were even people that came out of the Washington Street Pub to take pictures. It was really a heartwarming sight.” The Antique Toy and Fire Museum recently completed Phase 1 work of Bay City’s historic Fire Station Number 3, located at 115 Washington Ave.
Midland Daily News - Metered Site

With fake injuries and victims, paramedic trainees practice for disasters at Grand Rapids concert venue

VIDEO: Preparing for the worst was the goal for paramedics in training with Life EMS Ambulance on Wednesday afternoon. GLC Live at 20 Monroe, a downtown Grand Rapids concert venue, was turned into the site of a simulated mass casualty incident. “At Life EMS Ambulance, we put these on twice a year for all of our new paramedics in training before they go out on the road and they’re on their own,” Patrick Cooney-Davis, a field training coordinator, said. Organizers mocked up a scenario in which a firework malfunction at the venue injured several people. The “victims” were portrayed by actors who work at Life EMS. Staff from the venue participated, too. Five paramedic trainees practiced how they would handle the situation.
WOOD-TV NBC 8 Grand Rapids