CLICK TO HEAR JACK HALL’S INTERVIEW WITH KEITH MURPHY, DNR
Bone dry conditions means lots of work for Upper Peninsula firefighters, with the fire danger across the region remains very high.
Keith Murphy is the Michigan DNR’s Upper Peninsula fire supervisor, and he says that there have been multiple “small fires” reported across the UP this week. He says the DNR has been trying to help local fire departments, as well as the US Forest Service, make sure that none of these fires turn into major fires.
On Tuesday, a fire broke out in the Hiawatha National Forest along Federal Forest Highway 13, It started to grow, but at last word, there were no reports of major damage.
There are no burn permits being issued across the Upper Peninsula, but Murphy says cooking BBQ fires, as well as bonfires, are not banned. But, he saysm to keep them small, have plenty of water on hand, and never leave any fires unattended.
Murphy says there is some hope that rain Thursday night and Friday will help the situation, but he is also worried about lightning that may come with these thunderstorms. Murphy says that pine trees, with many dry needles, are a big potential problem.
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