Emergency responders have new concerns tonight after learning Consumers Energy will be closing several Northern Michigan locations.

Consumers Energy will close its Manistee, Gaylord and Cheboygan offices some time early next year.

All employees in Manistee will move to Ludington or Benzonia, and those in Gaylord and Cheboygan will move to Boyne City.

No jobs will be cut, but first responders say losing the local offices will put a strain on response time.

When a building catches fire, firefighters have to wait for Consumers Energy to turn the power off before they can get in to put a fire out.

They say waiting longer for power crews could mean more damage during fires and more risk to firefighters.

Consumers Energy is also offering employees a buyout option.

A spokesman for the company tells us that no matter what, they will still have adequate resources to serve customers.

Erika Waddell and photojournalist Justin DePrekel have the story.