Imlay City (left) and Marlette (right) fire departments were called to assist Lapeer
(LAPEER COUNTY) – The second major fire in Lapeer County in the past 12 days has destroyed businesses in downtown Lapeer.
City firefighters were called to W. Nepessing Street in downtown Lapeer around 5 a.m. after receiving reports of smoke and flames coming from a building.
Almost two weeks ago, fire departments from 18 agencies had fought a large fire at Jim’s Recycling in Arcadia Township.
Saturday’s fire quickly turned into an 11-alarm battle as firefighters worked to save a block of downtown. The fire burned for more than twelve hours, as eight aerial ladder trucks perched high above the inferno, pouring thousands of gallons of water on the historic buildings.
Firefighters from Lapeer, Oakland, Genesee and Sanilac counties responded to the blaze with aerial ladder trucks responding from Lapeer, Davison, Elba Twp., Imlay City, Grand Blanc, Marlette, Metamora Twp. and Oxford.
Other fire departments called to assist with manpower and equipment were Attica Twp., Arcadia Township and Deerfield Township. A firefighter was transported by ambulance to McLaren Lapeer Region for smoke inhalation.
The blaze sent 15 people out into the early morning air, escaping from apartments that were filling with smoke and flames, eventually losing everything they had except the clothes on their back.
Fire officials say the fire damaged three buildings, while buildings to the east likely sustained substantial smoke damage – including as many as 10 occupied second-floor apartments.
The American Red Cross was called to the scene to assist the families. Authorities say the fire appears to have started in an empty building on the south side of Nepessing Street, next to Lapeer County Vision Center.
The fire remains under investigation.
In the bottom photo – a Lapeer Farmer’s Market continued with their business as firefighters battled flames in the 11-alarm fire in the downtown section of Lapeer.
