ALPENA — Firefighters were called out Tuesday afternoon to a fire at the former DPI plant on Ford Avenue when heavy black smoke was seen coming from the rear of the building.

It happened around 3:15 p.m., when fire crews from the Alpena City Fire Department were immediately met by team members from Melching Demolition. That’s the company contracted to tear down the plant. They started their work in September.

The demolition workers said they were shearing metal at the back of the plant when accumulated dust on structural beams was ignited by sparks. Firefighters said the high amount of dust and strong winds off Lake Huron caused the fire to intensify and quickly spread.

There were no injuries and fire crews cleared the scene at 5:44 p.m.

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