Fire danger is elevated across the state, so keep fire safety in mind whether your weekend plans including heading up north, doing yard work or hitting the trails.
“Whether you're traveling north or not, conditions are dry in much of the state. Be careful with fire, ORVs and outdoor equipment and take precautions to keep yourself and others safe,” said Don Klingler, resource protection manager for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Fire danger is high or very high statewide today, with pockets of extreme risk across the northern Lower Peninsula.
Even if the landscape looks green, vegetation still can be dry, said Keith Murphy, a DNR fire management specialist based in the Upper Peninsula.
“Due to the low relative humidity, needle moisture in pines and lack of good rainfall, certain areas of the Upper Peninsula can definitely burn,” he said. Several of Michigan’s largest wildfires in the past have started during the last two weeks in May.
Most wildfires are caused by people, and in Michigan, yard waste burning is the top offender. If a backyard fire gets away from you, call 911 immediately.
“People get out there and don’t realize how fast a fire can take off, especially if there is any breeze that can carry an ember,” Klingler said.
Check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit before you start your fire to make sure weather conditions allow for safe burning. In southern Lower Peninsula communities, consult local fire authorities.
Use these tips to keep your outdoor activities fire safe:
More fire safety information is available at Michigan.gov/FireManagement.
Since the beginning of fire season in March, DNR wildland firefighters have fought more than 124 fires covering nearly 700 acres.
Contact: Paul Rogers, 616-260-8406 (Lower Peninsula) or John Pepin, 906-226-1352 (Upper Peninsula)