Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette The Copper Country will return to high fire danger levels following a wet and cool weekend due to high winds expected for near future. People should always look up the DNR website to see if burning is permissible on any given day.

Copper Country — After several days of the Copper Country under high levels of fire danger, the weekend brought continuous rain, low temperatures and some brief snow showers in spots to help alleviate the hazard. Despite the brief relief, however, fire danger levels will rise again this week.

Last week high winds and temperatures that sometimes neared 90 degrees turned many of the Smokey Bear fire danger signs to “very high” or “extreme,” and they will likely return to that status. While wet conditions helped lower the danger, much of the vegetation within Copper Country (particularly the Keweenaw Peninsula) are not yet in conditions which are less likely to burn, or “greened up” as Forest Fire Officer Supervisor for the Western U.P. Brian Mensch put it.

Mensch explained the flora of the Keweenaw Peninsula does not mature at the same speed as other areas due to Lake Superior having an effect on the area’s temperatures. Until the flora has “greened up” it remains vulnerable for a wildfire. Mensch provided examples of vegetation which are most hazardous during this time which include Jack Pine and hardwoods.

Jack Pines tend to maintain moisture for them to grow during spring and summer. Because of this, moisture levels are low leaving the trees more vulnerable to fires. Mensch said pine trees typically do not “green up” until mid to late June and are normally the last vegetation to do so.

He said signs of better conditions which indicate the “green up” include the arrival of blueberries and ferns, which begin when regular moisture and warm temperatures are maintained. According to Mensch specific areas that have most favorable conditions for fire hazards include Rice Lake in Houghton County and the plains in Baraga County due to low moisture in the vegetation.

The high winds expected today and moving forward are the reason for the elevated fire hazard. Mensch said until vegetation is “greened up” high winds will always heighten the danger level. Burn bans will be present in the region during times of high wind, though Mensch said everyone should always check the DNR’s website to see if burnings are permissible that day. The website can be reached at www.2.dnr.state.mi.us/burnpermits/. It should be noted Torch Lake residents should contact their local fire departments for information on the status of burning since the DNR does not provide permits to this location.

If burning is permissible, those who are using a fire pit or campfire should still practice fire safety. Any campfires or fire pits that are lit still need to be properly extinguished before leaving the area, which involves pouring water into the pit and stirring the debris. The process needs to be repeated until the pit is no longer warm.

“We’re still in conditions for prime wildfires,” Mensch said. “Use caution anytime you are burning because you are responsible for your fire no matter what the conditions are. Use our Smokey the Bear signs and our burn permit systems to know when to or not to burn. Use your best judgment.”