East Lansing Firefighters get trained on local lake

One group stayed cool on Wednesday by staying in the water. The East Lansing Fire Department held its annual water rescue class at Lake Lansing. Firefighters learned about water rescue procedures, boat operation and how to rescue a person from the water. "Slow is pro," Captain Cam Howie told News 10. "We don't want to come to an incident very fast and make it bigger." He added that they get water-related calls once or twice a summer. And the best advice that he can give everyone that will be on the lakes and rivers this weekend is to wear a life jacket and tell someone where you are going before you head out.
WILX-TV Lansing NBC 10

Follow Up: Detectives in Calhoun County investigating fatal fire in Pennfield Township

Detectives in Calhoun County are investigating a house fire that left one man dead Wednesday morning. “About 7 this morning I come out, take the wife to work (and) I just seen black smoke pouring out of his house,” neighbor Billy Mexico recalled. “Fire department pulling up.” Pennfield Township Fire Chief Tim Smith said firefighters arrived to the house on Montford Street, near Capitol Avenue, just before 7 a.m. When they entered the single-family home they encountered heavy smoke and found a body on the main floor. “It was a fatal fire,” Smith said. “That’s all under investigation at this point by the state police and the Calhoun County Sheriff.” He said the victim has been identified as a 58-year-old man from Pennfield Township. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
WXMI-TV FOX 17 Grand Rapids

Grand Traverse Farmhouse Will Be Used for Fire Training

An abandoned house on county park property will have to go – and the question is not only how, but how much will it cost? The old farmhouse sits on the Maple Bay Park property in Grand Traverse County’s Acme Township. County Commissioner and Parks Commissioner Rob Hentschel says they’ve been working towards a middle ground. “It was a compromise. I wasn’t completely happy with how we went about it. I’d like to know who is paying for what.” The farmhouse has been there for generations, but the parkland is supposed to be green space. The county acquired the parkland, and essentially inherited the farmhouse, which sits on 450 acres of the Maple Bay Natural Area. Grand Traverse County Parks Commissioners decided in 2018 to find a way to get rid of the old farmhouse. They ultimately opted to let fire crews use it for training.
WWTV-TV 9&10 News

Lansing: Firefighters warn of the dangers of leaving plastic water bottles in hot cars

Firefighters are warning people to not leave plastic water bottles in cars during extreme heat. They say leaving a plastic bottle of water in a hot car in direct sunlight can start a fire in just minutes. In order for that to open, firefighters say the bottle would have to be full. Then, the water and plastic could create a magnifying effect, which could essentially set the inside of the vehicle or a piece of plastic on fire. Firefighters suggest putting bottled water in the trunk instead if it has to be kept in the vehicle.
WSYM-TV FOX 47 Lansing

Pennfield Township man dies in house fire

A 58-year-old Pennfield Township man was found dead Wednesday morning in his burning house. Calhoun County Sheriff Department Capt. Art Draper said the man was found in his home at 18 Montford St. near Capital Avenue Northeast and just north of the Battle Creek city limits. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was not released. Pennfield Township firefighters were called at 6:53 a.m. and the first firefighters to arrive found black smoke coming from the single story house. Two Michigan State Police troopers arrived first and attempted to enter the home. Firefighters from Pennfield were assisted by Emmett Township and Bedford Township firefighters. Lifecare paramedics also were at the scene. Pennfield Township Fire Chief Tim Smith said the fire began in the basement but the exact cause remains under investigation.
Battle Creek Enquirer

Richland Township fire chief worries new state training requirements will limit volunteers

A West Michigan fire chief said proposed changes on training firefighters, under Michigan Public Act 291, have him worried. Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Gerald Leudecking said he believes the proposed changes could be devastating to volunteer staffs. "They want all firefighters in Michigan to have 12 hours of training a year, which isn't bad, but they want it to be by a service instructor that's approved by licensing and regulations out of Lansing," Leudecking said. The fire marshal for the state of Michigan, Kevin Sehlmeyer disagreed. He said Leudecking misinterpreted the proposals. "That's not the case. That training can be done in house, in his township, by anyone he deems as being the appropriate person to conduct the training," Sehlmeyer said.
WWMT-TV Kalamazoo 3

Fire extinguished at Parc restaurant in downtown Detroit

A small fire broke out late Tuesday afternoon at Parc restaurant in downtown Detroit, but the diner plans to be back open for lunch Wednesday. The Detroit Fire Department dispatched about 20 firefighters to the restaurant at 800 Woodward Ave. in Campus Martius, said department spokesman Dave Fornell. Restaurant owner Zaid Elia said the wood-fired stove caught fire and sent flames through the chimney flue, but it was quickly contained around 5 p.m. and resulted in "little to no damage." He had raced to the restaurant, "filled with crazy anxiety," after learning about the fire. "The weight of the world, for the most part, has been lifted off my shoulders," he said.
Crain's Detroit Business