… and then there were three
Additional UP wildfire reported
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HOUGHTON -- Fire crews made steady containment progress Wednesday on multiple wildfires burning across rugged Upper Peninsula terrain, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced.
As of Thursday, DNR fire crews are managing three active blazes: the Craig Lake Fire, the Ridge Fire and the Black River Fire.
On Wednesday, the DNR had 41 firefighters on the ground on the Ridge Fire and 24 firefighters on the ground on the Craig Lake Fire. A 21-person DNR Incident Management Team is managing both fires. Additional support is provided by the U.S. Forest Service, Michigan State Police, Marquette County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management, Baraga County Emergency Management, Michigamme-Spurr Fire Department and DNR Law Enforcement Division.
The Craig Lake Fire, located north of Craig Lake State Park, is estimated at 604 acres and is 50 percent contained. The DNR confirmed that the blaze was sparked by a lightning strike from storms that moved through the area between Oct. 5 and 8. The fire smoldered for days before high winds caused it to spread into dry fuels.
The Ridge Fire, located 10 miles northwest of Marquette near the Dead River Basin, has burned 434 acres and is 30 percent contained. A DNR pilot first spotted the fire October 9, and the cause remains under investigation. Ground firefighters were tackling the steep terrain, aided by layout information provided by local landowners.
Under the regional “Ready, Set, Go!” wildfire protocol, residents along North Basin Drive remain under a “Ready” status, meaning they should be prepared for potential evacuation if conditions shift. The Noquemanon Trail system west of the County Road 510 trailhead remains closed.
Due to active wildfire suppression operations in the area, the DNR issued a public safety advisory on Wednesday, temporarily closing Craig Lake State Park north of Craig Lake proper, the Teddy Lake Yurt, and the local section of the North Country Trail through the end of October. The remainder of the park is open.
The DNR has also issued flight restrictions on its social media page. A five-nautical-mile radius restriction is in effect below 3,500 feet over the Ridge and Craig Lake fires. Drones are strictly prohibited as they halt all air operations.
The DNR also announced late Wednesday that in addition to its work on the Ridge and Craig Lake fires, the DNR took over management of the Black River Fire from the U.S. Forest Service Tuesday. The 382-acre fire, located 4 miles south of Wakefield, is currently 50 percent contained. It is burning in a densely forested area with difficult access.
"We're grateful for the efforts of the U.S. Forest Service on the initial attack of the Black River Fire," said Keith Murphy, DNR incident commander, in a statement. "It's been a truly cooperative effort to achieve 50% containment of this fire."
Minnesota and Wisconsin DNR crews are also assisting Michigan officials on the scene. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.