Sixty-five Michigan Department of Natural Resources firefighters continued suppression efforts Thursday on the Ridge and Craig Lake fires, but the dangers they faced weren’t just the fires. Rough terrain, falling trees, slippery rocks, and rutted roads sometimes so muddy they are impassible, are just some of the unique hazards the crews are facing daily.
“Firefighter safety is a top priority at all times,” said Nate Stearns, DNR incident commander. “To be able to suppress wildfires to protect the public, their property and our natural resources, we have to make sure our crews are safe. We are specially trained to watch out for hazards, risks and one another — and how we’re approaching these fires is no different.”
Recent precipitation, though helpful to reduce fire behavior, has caused slippery rocks and led to softer soils which increases difficulty for heavy equipment to access the landscape and the chances of equipment getting stuck.
Additionally, due to the drought conditions across the Upper Peninsula, the fires are burning as deep as 2 feet in the duff layer, so the rain alone does not extinguish it. Duff layer is the layer of partially decayed organic matter on the forest floor under the loose leaf litter and above mineral soil. With the fire burning at these depths, it can burn the root systems of what otherwise appear to be healthy, green trees, causing them to fall without notice and creating additional hazards for firefighters. Expected high wind gusts today and Friday increase the likelihood of falling tree dangers.
The Ridge Fire is now estimated at 466 acres and 30% contained. It is located 10 miles northwest of Marquette and north of the Dead River Basin west of County Road 510, and was spotted by a DNR pilot Oct. 9. The cause of this fire remains under investigation.
The Craig Lake Fire, north of Craig Lake State Park (which is between Baraga and Marquette), is now estimated at 606 acres and is 57% contained. The DNR confirmed the cause of the Craig Lake Fire as being a lightning strike. The Craig Lake Fire was detected by a DNR pilot Oct. 8.
In addition to the crews working the fires, a 20-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, the Marquette National Weather Service, Baraga County Emergency Management, Michigamme-Spurr Fire Department and DNR Law Enforcement Division.
The status of the “Ready, Set, Go!” protocol for residents along North Basin Drive remains at a “Ready” status. Residents are encouraged to continue to be prepared in case conditions change.
A temporary flight restriction, or TFR, remains in place over both the Ridge Fire and Craig Lake Fire for a 5-nautical-mile radius and below 3,500 feet. The public is asked to please avoid the area around both fires so that suppression efforts are not interrupted. Drones are not permitted in the fire area as they will bring air operations to a halt.
To ensure the safety of Craig Lake State Park visitors, and due to ongoing wildfire suppression operations on the Craig Lake Fire, the DNR has temporarily closed the park north of Craig Lake proper and the Teddy Lake Yurt through the end of October.
The North Country Trail within Craig Lake State Park has also been closed due to ongoing fire suppression operations.
The remainder of Craig Lake State Park is open to the public.
In addition to the closures at Craig Lake State Park, the Noquemanon Trail network west of the trailhead on County Road 510 is closed.
The Black River Fire located approximately 4 miles south of Wakefield, Michigan, in the Western U.P. had 60 personnel on-site Thursday working to suppress the fire, which is estimated at approximately 382 acres and 50% contained.
Bulldozer lines have been established along portions of the fire’s southern perimeter. Hand crews are working along portions of the northern and southern perimeters where heavy equipment access is limited by soil conditions.
Cooperating on Black River Fire suppression efforts are: the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Bay Mills Indian Community, the Marquette National Weather Service, Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office, Gogebic County Emergency Management, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bessemer Township Local Fire Department, Wakefield Local Fire Department and additional resources provided by U.S. Forest Service Ottawa National Forest.
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