Fire danger remains high in Michigan, dry conditions continue

Fire danger is high or very high in parts of the state due to dry conditions, making wildfires more likely
Rainfall is expected this weekend but it may not be enough
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging residents not to burn, especially in the northern Lower Peninsula

Fire danger remains high across Michigan, prompting state officials to urge residents not to burn leaves or start campfires this weekend.

There were several fires over the weekend, including one over more than 100 acres in the McCormick Wilderness, a federally managed wilderness part of the Ottawa National Forest in the Upper Peninsula’s Baraga County, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

There were also fires in remote locations near Luce County, where firefighters had to hike or use a boat to access them. DNR firefighters have put out more than 250 fires across 1,200 acres so far this year, which is below average.

“We had a wet spring … (but) it’s been pretty dry so we’ve had a lot of fires this fall which we haven’t had in a long time, ” said Jeff Vasher fire specialist for the DNR.

Most of southern Michigan remains abnormally dry but northern Michigan is currently in a moderate drought and parts of the Upper Peninsula are in a severe drought.

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“It’s amazing how dry it is for October,” said Keith Murphy, a Marquette-based fire specialist for the DNR, in a statement. “It is not usually like this at this time of year.”

Some rain is possible in the next few days, but totals remain 2 to 3 inches below normal since September.

The warning comes as abnormally warm temperatures are expected throughout Michigan.

In southeast Michigan, temperatures are expected to reach the upper 70s Tuesday before cooling to the mid-60s Wednesday and Thursday.

In northern Michigan, where fire danger continues to be elevated, temperatures range from the high 60s to mid-70s on Tuesday but will cool to the low 50s with a chance of rain on Wednesday.

The department provided residents with the following safety tips:

Have a hose or water source nearby during fires
Keep trailer chains from dragging to prevent sparks, which can create a fire
Don’t burn plastic, foam, household trash and other hazardous materials that can release toxic chemicals into the air
Use a burn barrel to burn paper, leaves and natural materials