Firefighters were still putting out the last of the paper mill fire in Cheboygan on Thursday.
The Environmental Protection Agency and other responders are trying to stop pollution from reaching the nearby Cheboygan River.
When part of the Tissue Depot went up in flames on Wednesday, firefighters doused the blaze with thousands of gallons of water. That water is full of particulates and debris from the burned structure.
A structure fire like this can release particulates and debris into the air and the water.
“The firefighting water itself can be contaminated with materials from the site. We've been engaged in efforts to keep that water from entering the local waterways,” said Jeff Johnston, a spokesperson for the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.