Work begins to remove debris from paper mill warehouse fire

CHEBOYGAN — The cleanup of debris from the Sept. 13, 2023 fire that destroyed the warehouse across from the Tissue Depot paper mill on Main Street has started.

According to a press release from the City of Cheboygan, the municipality continues to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and various stakeholders, including Cheboygan County, on the cleanup of the warehouse site. The next phase will include removal of the piles of poly material and sidewalk debris around the site.

The EPA has received approval to move forward with safely disposing of the poly materials in a local landfill. The city is requesting that the public avoid the restricted area as the cleanup progresses. Over the next 45 days, heavy equipment will be on the site and there will be some minimal road closures in the area.

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The site is still secure and there are no health-related exposure issues to the public, city officials said.

The city and county will continue to monitor the site's cleanup progress to ensure public safety and to protect the surrounding neighborhoods, according to the release.

"I want to add that the local government has very limited jurisdiction on the cleanup efforts. The (paper mill) is privately owned, leaving the city in a position of monitoring cleanup efforts rather than directing," said councilwoman Diane Mills.

— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.