The Alpena area has seen its share of devastating fires at local businesses in recent years.

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore in November 2019.

The John A. Lau Saloon and adjacent Thunder Bay Theater the following July.

The BP gas station at the corner of M-65 and M-72 in March.

And, on Monday night, the destructive fire at Greenway/L and N Disposal on U.S.-23.

About 40 full-time and paid-on-call firefighters from the Alpena, Presque Isle, and Maple Ridge fire departments, and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center responded to the Greenway fire, News staff writer Julie Riddle reported.

Those kinds of fires, especially at industrial sites, pose some of the greatest risk to firefighters. Riddle reported those on the scene of the Greenway fire could hear explosions coming from inside the business while firefighters battled the blaze.

Fires at businesses can get very large very fast, thanks to the kinds of building materials and chemicals found inside such places, and usually require multiple agencies to save as much property as possible and keep people safe.

Despite all the debate over who should run local fire departments and who should pay and how much they should pay, let’s never forget to stop and thank every single man and woman willing to rush into those dangerous situations to protect the rest of us. No matter whose uniform they wear, every firefighter is a hero.

Thank you.