Dry conditions ignite fire problems in state | News, Sports, Employment

Courtesy Image Unusually dry weather and an extended summer season in a quick fall glow of fall colors and annual leaf fall have contributed to increased fire danger in the northern Lower Peninsula. Residents and visitors to the forest are warned to watch their outdoor activities and be vigilant about starting wildfires.

CADILLAC – A lack of adequate rainfall, unusually warm days and competing needs for available resources across the country have fire management officials prepositioning aerial firefighting resources in the Great Lakes region for a quick response to forest fire reports.

Today, Inciweb, an interagency all-risk incident information management system developed to provide the public with a single source of incident-related information, reported two wildfires in the Upper Peninsula that were actively burning on federal public lands . The Ottawa National Forest’s Summit Lake Fire, 24 miles southeast of Ishpeming, is burning through timber with moderate fire behavior, while the Hiawatha National Forest’s Lard Lake Wildfire , just nine kilometers southeast of Munising, is burning wood and showing active fire behavior with twisting. .

As of midnight Tuesday, both fires reported more than 200 acres burned.

The causes of the fires are pending investigation.

Three AT-802F amphibious single-engine air tankers, also known as Fire Bosses, located in the central Great Lakes, provided air support to the Summit and Lard Lake fires, supporting ground firefighting units to suppress the forward movement of wildfires. Additional help on a Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildfire in Deerton, west of Munising, brought the total aerial suppression effort to 48,000 gallons over 60 water drops.

Courtesy photo Aerial firefighting resources taxi on the runway at Marquette/Sawyer Regional Airport en route to the Summit Fire in the Ottawa National Forest, 24 miles southeast of Ishpeming, Tuesday this US Forest Service photo by Chad Runyan.

“Wildfire conditions in the Huron-Manistee National Forests warrant forest residents and visitors to be vigilant with their preventative measures to prevent a wildfire from occurring,” said Fire Management Officer Matthew Way. “With high and very high rates in the northern Lower Peninsula, following the Michigan Department of Natural Resources burn permit map and fire weather forecast at Great Lakes Fire and Fuels would be a great benefit to anyone who wants to do any kind of outdoor activities that could put a forest fire at risk.”

Way reported that response to the initial attack from Huron-Manistee National Forest Resources began to see an increase, raising concerns that complacency could be contributing to the increase this time of year.

Way noted that the recent rains were not enough to offset any fire danger in the Huron-Manistee National Forests response area.

Fall recreational activities such as hunting, camping, and off-road vehicle use increase the risk of a human-caused wildfire due to a fire against the vehicle, an abandoned campfire, or even and the entire parking lot above dry vegetation.

Preparing your property for the potential impact of a wildfire through mitigation practices is as easy as fall cleanup.

Residents are encouraged to take mitigation activities such as reducing the fuel load on their property, cleaning gutters so they are free of flammable debris, and taking the time to inspect recreational fire rings on their property for maintenance , including waste disposal 10 feet outside the pit. and 20 feet above.

Composting, wood shavings, and even creating wildlife habitat for small mammals for the winter would be a better use of yard waste and debris during this drought period.

“Home hardening techniques such as cleaning gutters, removing dead vegetation from the base of structures and houses, as well as keeping the area under roofs free of flammable materials and gas cans help to reduce a structure/house fire in the event of a wildfire.” Way indicated.

Pay special attention to the roof of any structure, residence or outbuilding, which can be a vital ignition point during a wildfire.

Reinforced to the public that when suppression efforts are underway, staying away from the area and avoiding the use of drones helps operations run more smoothly and creates a safer environment for resources airs act quickly.

“If you want, we can’t,” Way said.

Aerial suppression is an effective way to initiate suppression efforts before ground resources arrive and often continues to support firefighters with aerial observation of vital fire behavior and forward movement.

For more information on home hardening or mitigating the threat of wildfires on your property, go to the Huron-Manistee National Forests Fire Management website.