Firemen punch hole in roof over fire
Photo by Andrew Rogers
City Hall Fire Results In Water Damage
Sprinkler system prevents major fire, but cause significant water damage
October 13, 2010
By: Stephen Kent
The call came in sometime after 1:00 pm. City Manager Robert Bellman was reported to be seen leaving the Rotary meeting in a hurry with cell phone to ear.
Outside it felt like the Saint Patrick's Day Parade as fire engines and ladder trucks from all the surrounding communities, including Zilwaukee and Midland rush to Bay City's Gothic City Hall.
A fire had broken out in the fourth floor attic area. Mayor Charles Brunner said he heard that it was electrical and may have smoldered for a while before setting off the alarms and sprinkler system.
The fire itself seems to have caused limited damage. Firemen cut access holes in the roof, but since the roof is being replaced at this time anyway, that won't be as disastrous as it could be.
According to one source the fire was not related to the roof work, which has not yet reached the area where the blaze occurred.
The most significant problem will be the water damage. "It was like a rain storm down on our lower level" said Tony Reyes, Assistant Information Systems Manager. Reyes had been allowed in to grab his laptop, which has backups of some significant programs and data. "There's water on the outside but it wasn't soaked." Standing at the trunk of his car Reyes toweled the computer off then fired it up. "It works. So that's good. But I wish I had grabbed the charger while I was there", he said.
This is not the first time that water has damaged City Hall. A couple of years ago a water pipe burst over the commission chambers and flooded that area and the computer center below. This time firemen got in quickly and were said to have "tarped" the computers and other areas. Full assessment of the damage will be made in the next few days and weeks.
It was fortunate that the fire was detected and put out quickly. City hall is an historical jewel of downtown Bay City and would the a terrible structure to lose.
It was also encouraging to see the massive and immediate response by emergency fire crews. The situation was handled quickly and demonstrated that the professionals are ready and capable in an emergency.
City manager Robert Bellman on cell phone while other city employees look on.
Photo by Andrew Rogers
View from Southwest corner
Firemen emerge from back door entrance
Photo by Andrew Rogers
Mayor Charlie Brunner and Kathy Newsham talk to Fire Chief Greg Michalek
Photo by Andrew Rogers
Zilwaukee firemen suit up
Photo by Andrew Rogers
Panorama of west side
Photo by Andrew Rogers
Ladder trucks and other emergency vehicles surrounded City Hall.
Wisps of smoke could still be seen even after the situation was under control.
Bay City ladder truck provided access on the south side.
A ladder truck is backed up to the west side.
Scaffolding for the roof work surrounds the southwest corner.
One of the access holes cut by firemen can be seen on the right in an area where roof work has not started. On the left the new tiles are being installed.
Assistant IS Manager Tony Reyes dries his laptop. He turned it on a few minutes later and was relieved to find it working and all the data safe.
Ladder trucks posted behind the Bay County Historical Society Museum.
Crews from all the surrounding communities were on scene including Bay City, Bangor, Buena Vista, Hampton, Midland, Monitor Township, and Zilwaukee.