Local/Regional News

Cheboygan downtown mostly reopened after tissue depot fire

WCMU | By Teresa Homsi

Published September 15, 2023 at 5:56 PM EDT

A section of Main Street in downtown Cheboygan is cordoned off for responders following a fire at the Tissue Depot. Most of the plant's warehouse on the western side of the road burnt down in a fire that began Wednesday morning. — A section of Main Street in downtown Cheboygan is cordoned off following a fire at the Tissue Depot. Most of the plant's warehouse on the western side of the road burnt down in a fire that began Wednesday morning.

Downtown Cheboygan is quiet today after a fire destroyed most of a tissue plant warehouse in a blaze that began Wednesday morning.

Orange detour signs litter the streets of Cheboygan, and yellow police tape cordons off the Tissue Depot on Main Street. But aside from an occasional truck, the scene is now calm after the fire was extinguished and a shelter-in-place order was lifted Thursday.

Most businesses have reopened, including the Cheboygan dam and locks that are adjacent to the plant. Cheboygan area schools closed for the day Sept. 14, but resumed Friday.

The Cheboygan dam and locks reopened Sept. 15 after a fire at the Tissue Depot [in the back] closed the facility for two days.

State and federal authorities are still monitoring air and water quality, as well as testing soil, for signs of toxic substances. According to the Cheboygan County Sheriff's Department, 25 samples taken around the plant did not detect asbestos. Air quality in the city was deemed safe by authorities.

Booms were placed in the Cheboygan River to catch debris and limit contamination but have now been removed.

The sheriff's office said the cause of the fire is still unknown, and clean-up will likely take several weeks. The department also said the owners of the Tissue Depot are cooperating with the investigation.

A marine salvage boat filled with trash bags is parked at the Cheboygan lock facility, adjacent to the Tissue Depot. Authorities deployed booms in the Cheboygan River to collect any debris and prevent contamination from the fire at the depot warehouse. — A marine salvage boat filled with trash bags is parked at the Cheboygan lock facility, adjacent to the Tissue Depot. Authorities initially deployed booms in the Cheboygan River to collect any debris and prevent contamination from the fire at the depot warehouse.

"Command would like to thank the citizens and business[es] for the continuous supply of food and drink to all the first responders, it is greatly appreciated," the sheriff's department wrote in a statement.

At this time, people are asked to respect the police tape, avoid fishing around and downstream of the dam and limit activities that would stir up dust like lawn mowing until EPA test results return.

A section of Main Street is closed in downtown Cheboygan Sept. 15 following a fire at the Tissue Depot. Road construction in Cheboygan has also left the town littered with detour signs.

The sheriff's office said discussions are ongoing between local, state, federal entities and the depot owner in consideration of cleanup and demolition plans.