Chimney fire turns into house fire in Chassell Township Thursday night – three fire departments called to scene – third U.P. structure fire in 24 hours

URGENT U.P. Breaking News Bulletin – 4-5-18 – 8:30 p.m.

Chassell Township firefighters get mutual aid from two other departments as a reported chimney fire turns into house fire

By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Chassell, MI) – For third time in less than24hours, Upper Peninsula volunteer fire departments are battling a house fire.

What was first dispatched as a chimney fire, turned quickly into a house fire, as the Chassell Township fire chief immediately requested tanker support from two other departments. He said there was not room for any other fire vehicles – only tanker trucks.

In the summer, firefighters can drive onto a lawn if needed – but not with deep snow.

Our latest report indicated that the fire may be under control, as the mutual aid tankers are being sent home. However, the chief noted they would be on the scene for another 45 minutes. The rural electric authority was called to cut electricity.

Firefighters from three volunteer departments are assisting to battle the blaze at 36650 Pike River Road in Chassell Township.
Fire departments on the scene include the Chassell Township Volunteer Fire Department, Hurontown Township Volunteer Fire Department, and the Otter Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department.
The tankers are staging on Schultz Road.

The residents fled their home while calling Houghton County 911.
The fire was reported about 7:40 p.m. ET tonight, April 5, 2018.

In Menominee County this morning, a camper fire was reported about 4:40 a.m. at 1404 29th Avenue in Menominee, MI. Parked next to the house, the camper caught a garage on fire and damaged two vehicles.
A mutual aid Marinette, WI firefighter received a cut on his hand.

And in northern Chippewa County, firefighters returned tonight to a minor flare up rekindle of last night’s house fire.
Firefighters were pouring water on a large house fire until early this morning – spending four hours to put out the blaze in Hulbert Township next to 9840 S. North Hulbert Road. The American Red Cross was called to help the homeowners and five volunteer fire departments helped battle the fire during windy conditions.

4,000 gallon diesel fuel/gas spill – huge clean up effort – and victims remembered – U.S.-41 is one lane over bridge with help from alternating stop lights – HAZMAT: Extremely terrible crash in Chassell, MI closes U.S. Highway 41 – At least one person killed, other people are trapped, hurt – in crash involving four vehicles and one is an overturned leaking semi-tanker fuel truck

URGENT – U.P. Breaking News Bulletin – 2-4-18 8 p.m. ET = some more details on terrible crash:

Accident caused huge fuel spill

Over 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel/gas spilled – and much of the oily mass dumped in the Sturgeon River – will require a lot of remediation – and the clean up is underway now

Names of those involved in the accident have been released:

Accident victim 45-year-old Christine Juntunen of Hubbell, MI

The victim was 45-year-old Christine Juntunen of Hubbell, MI

45-year-old Christine Juntunen of Hubbell, MI

The driver that attempted to pass the tanker but lost control of her Toyota RAV SUV and slid on ice is 40-year-old Jennifer Jennings-Shaud of L’Anse, MI.

Toyota RAV SUV struck the southbound Honda CRV driven by Juntunen.

The tanker driver is 50-year-old David Hooper from Green Bay, who was transporting diesel fuel and gasoline from Green Bay. Hooper was not injured and as is standard in semi wrecks was required to submit a blood test.  Alcohol is not a factor.

Toyota RAV driver 40-year-old Jennifer Jennings-Shaud of L’Anse, MI and her nine-year-old son Ephraim taken by ambulance to Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital. Jennings-Shaud was transferred last night to the trauma center at U.P. Health System – Marquette.

The southbound Audi was driven by 40-year-old Eric Trapp, and included two passengers 43-year-old Amanda Galetto and her 12-year-old son Brady Galetto, all from Hancock, MI. The three escaped injury.

The above photo was taken by Eric Trapp, who shared it and gratefulness to be alive on Facebook.

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2-3-18 Update – 9:48 p.m. ET:

By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Chassell, MI) – The four-vehicle crash happened about 10 a.m. Saturday on U.S.-41 at the Sturgeon River Bridge near Chassell and claimed the life of a Hubbell, MI woman.

A Green Bay trucker was heading north in his semi-tanker truck hauling 9,000 gallons of diesel fuel and gasoline.

As the trucker approached the bridge, the female driver of a Toyota RAV SUV tried to pass the tanker truck but lost control on the snow and ice covered highway.

A southbound Honda CRV driven by a female was struck head-on by the driver attempting to pass.

The Honda CRV slid into the northbound lane and was hit on the driver’s side by the fuel truck.

A Hubbell woman driving the Honda was ejected and killed instantly.

A fourth vehicle – headed south near the crash – was struck by at least one of the vehicles.

The male driver of that fourth vehicle had two passengers in his Audi. All were uninjured and from Hancock, MI.

The driver and passenger in a Toyota RAV were treated at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital – before the driver was transferred tonight to the trauma center at U.P. Health System-Marquette.

No names have been released.

The tanker truck leaked an untold amount of fuel into the Sturgeon River and onto the ice. UIS.-41 was closed for over 11hours. Its been reopened to one lane on the bridge with a traffic light for alternating traffic.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality are overseeing the cleanup.

No indication how bad an effect the spill will have on the wildlife in and on the river.

The cleanup is going to take a while.

Among those assisting were and are:

• The U.S. Coast Guard spill containment unit
• Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
• Chassell Volunteer Fire Department and First Responders
• Hurontown Township Volunteer Fire Department with the Jaws of Life
• Calumet Township Volunteer Fire Dept. and Rescue provided fuel containment
• The Ironwood Public Safety Fire and Rescue containment unit
• Mercy Ambulance
• Bay Ambulance Service
• Michigan State Police
• The Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Unit in Iron Mountain
• Houghton County Emergency Management
• Superior Service Wrecker
• Gregg’s Wrecker Service from Ironwood, MI
• Numerous volunteers
• Plus Environmental cleanup teams from two companies: Calumet/Brian Bonen Construction and an unidentified Bark River company

There was an undetermined amount of fuel spilled from that overturned, punctured gas/fuel tanker.

Alcohol was not a factor in the crash. All victims were wearing seat belts.

Scroll down for further information.

9:12 p.m. 2-3-18

After being closed for about 11 hours – U.S-41 in Chassell, MI is re-opened to one lane (bridge only) – with stoplight for alternating traffic on the Sturgeon River bridge. An official on the scene said that the flashing signs will also warn people of temp traffic lights – and it will be one lane for about one day – or a day and a half.

——-

Update 5:50 p.m. ET – 2-3-18

Down to one lane soon on U.S.-41 over the bridge – and truck driver headed to Green Bay

It may sound optimistic, but MDOT official believe they can have the Sturgeon River Bridge reopened in an hour or so.

U.S.-41 will be reopened to one lane on the bridge – temporary stop lights will be put up to allow the alternating traffic to run in both directions.

Its like when you cross a bridge under repair.

MDOT is using sand to sop up the last of the fuel oil on the bridge.
Then it can be re-opened – but down to the one lane.

Also – the tanker truck driver has left the U.P. – after being treated for minor injuries at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital – and getting blood draws for police.

The trucker told officials his company had arranged for another blood test in Green Bay – and he was ordered to get there pronto

—

2:15 p.m.

Rappelling equipment has been called to the accident scene.

The Chassell Township Fire Chief has requested mutual aid from Calumet  Township Volunteer  Fire Department and its rappelling equipment and team.

Officials want to rappel off the Sturgeon River bridge – and determine the stability of the ice – so they can assess how much fuel spilled into the river and ice.

Apparently a significant amount of fuel did leak into the river and atop the ice.

The tanker was carrying 9,000 gallons.

Update 1:40 p.m. ET

Authorities have notified the family of the person who died in the crash.

At least one “blood draw” has been taken and maybe a second. A blood draw is routine in 18-wheeler wrecks.

As matter of procedure and law, all truckers involved in an accident are given a required blood draw.

It is still going be a very long time before highway is re-opened.

—

12 noon ET

All surviving victims have been taken from the scene to hospitals, one fatality. Houghton County Medical Examiner called. He had to change clothes because his clothes smelled like gas after leaving the scene. All people will have to be properly cleaned up after dealing with this wreck and its fumes, spillage.

Accident reconstruction experts are on the scene. The highway is closed until further notice.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Soo is handling efforts to stop the leak that is (or was) going into the river.

Officials are off-loading the tanker truck – that is holding 9,000 gallons of fuel.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has been notified.

11:42 a.m. Update

A sander has been called to build a berm on the Sturgeon River bridge to help stop the fuel leaking into the Sturgeon River.

Keweenaw Petroleum is sending crews to the scene to help deal with leak.

Plus traffic is reported “bumper to bumper.”

Traffic is slowly being rerouted thru Tapiola, MI – and sanders have been called to make side roads easy to maneuver as traffic will be rerouted for hours.

10:43 a.m. ET

HAZMAT: At least one killed, two hurt, people trapped in about four vehicles including overturn semi-tanker fuel truck that is leaking – U.S. Coast Guard MAZMAT containment crew summoned

uipm

By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Chassell, MI) – U.S.-41 in Chassell, MI has been closed due to an extremely bad multi-vehicle crash has claimed at least one life – and includes a leaking semi-tanker fuel truck.

Expect U.S.-41 in Chassell, MI to be closed for most of today.

The U.S. Coast Guard MAZMAT containment crew has been summoned due to leaking fuel into the Sturgeon River.

A HAZMAT crew is being summoned due to the leaking fuel semi-tanker truck.

The crash was reported about 10 a.m. ET, this morning, Feb. 3, 2018.

The wreck is on the top of the Sturgeon River Bridge on U.S.-41 in Chassell, MI.
It is said to be a rollover with entrapment involving three passenger vehicles and a semi-tanker truck that has overturned.

One victim died after being ejected from one of those passenger vehicles.

Others are reported hurt including an unknown number of people trapped in the mangle wreckage.

Numerous fire departments and other emergency vehicles have responded.

This includes the Hurontown Volunteer Fire Department and two rigs and paramedics from the Bay Ambulance Service, Michigan State Police, and law enforcement from numerous agencies in Baraga and Houghton counties.