GRAYLING TOWNSHIP, Mich. — UPDATE: The DNR said Tuesday evening that the Wilderness Trail Fire is 100% contained.
Fire crews continued putting out hot spots within the Wildnerness Trail Fire burn area Tuesday, and roads in the area reopened.
The DNR estimates the fire burn more than 2,400 acres, and is asking people to stay away from the area so fire crews can finish their work.
"We know it is interesting to see and that people are curious, but we want to make sure we have the room to get our work done safely," Mike Janisse, commander of the DNR Incident Management Team, said. "Driving on the dry roads creates a great deal of dust, which makes for poor visibility."
UPDATE: Around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said the fire was 90% under control.
35 homes, 38 vehicles and 58 outbuildings were in harm's way, the DNR estimates.
UPDATE: Around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, the Michigan DNR announced the Wilderness Trail Fire near Grayling was 85% contained. The DNR said the fire was caused by a campfire on private property.
“The crews were working in hilly, sandy terrain and that was difficult,” said Mike Janisse, Incident Commander of the Michigan DNR Incident Management Team supporting the fire. “Weather conditions also were hot, dry and windy.”
Fire danger has been very high to extreme in most parts of Michigan, and that is expected to continue with current hot, dry weather conditions. Burn permits for yard debris are not being granted at this time.
“One of the most important things people can do now is to refrain from burning until we get significant rain,” Janisse said.
Everyone evacuated from the area was able to return home by late Saturday, the DNR reports.
Several local roads remain closed.
I-75 reopened just before midnight Saturday, but heavy smoke still lingers in the area.
Drivers should travel with caution.
A temporary flight restriction remains in place for a 5-mile perimeter around the fire at heights below 5,000 feet. Do not fly aircraft or drones in the area.
ORIGINAL STORY: Fire crews plan to work through the night Saturday to contain the estimated 2,400-acre Wilderness Trail Fire in Crawford County that closed I-75 for much of the day.
The Michigan DNR says the first fire started around 1 p.m. Saturday about four miles southeast of Grayling near Staley Lake in Grayling Township.
State police say the fire is traveling southwest toward I-75 and threatening several buildings. Evacuations are underway.
The Red Cross was activated to help people who were evacuated from the area.
Shelter is available at Beaver Creek Township Hall, 8888 S. Grayling Road.
Michigan State Police shut down parts of I-75 a little before 6 p.m. Saturday.
I-75 lanes have since been reopened; however, there were several closures still in place around 11:30 p.m. Saturday:
- Staley Lake Road from M-72 to 4 Mile Road
- Wildnerness Trail from Keystone Landing Road to Staley Lake Road
- Staley Lake Beach and Neff Lake Beach
The DNR says to avoid the area so crews can work on suppressing the fire.
Meanwhile, a temporary flight restriction is in place for a five-mile perimeter around the fire at heights below 5,000 feet— do not fly aircraft or drones in this area.
Michigan State Police released photos of the fire from its Aviation Unit helicopter:
The wildfire continues to produce an abundance of smoke.
Visibility may be reduced, so make sure you drive carefully through affected areas.
The DNR says you should limit exposure to wildfire smoke by staying inside with all doors and windows closed, especially if you have asthma or other respiratory conditions.
The DNR says ground crews, heavy equipment, a Michigan State Police helicopter, four USDA Forest Service fire boss planes and a Type 1 helicopter are helping to suppress the fire.
Right now, aircraft is scooping water from Neff Lake, Shellenbarger Lake and Lake Margrethe.
The following agencies were involved in helping suppress the fire:
- Michigan State Police
- USDA Forest Service
- Bureau of Land Management
- Grayling Station 2
- Grayling Public Safety
- Gaylord City Fire Department
- Grayling Township Fire
- Kalkaska Fire
- Blue Lake Fire
- Beaver Creek Fire
- Markey Township Fire
- Higgins Township Fire
- Richfield Township Fire
- South Branch Township Fire
- Frederic Township Fire
- Otsego County Fire
- Cold Springs Fire
- Denton Township Fire
Investigators are working to figure out how exactly the fire started.
Meanwhile, in Iosco County, a forest fire is burning on around 250-300 acres.
The governor's office says the fire is contained and crews continue to monitor the area as a precaution.
The fire evacuated five people who should be able to return to their homes Saturday night.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) Saturday due to the wildfire in Crawford County and another in Iosco County.
The SEOC was operational by 7 p.m. Saturday, according to the MSP Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (EMHSD).
SEOC personnel are monitoring the situation and working with state and local officials, as well as private sector partners, to make sure all resource needs are met.
"[Saturday], I am activating our State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to the wildfires in northern Michigan," Governor Whitmer said. "By taking this action, we can ensure state and local first responders have what they need to get this fire contained and prevent loss of life or property. I want to thank the first responders who have been working to keep Michiganders safe."
The DNR has the following reminders as Michigan experiences unprecedented hot and dry conditions for this time of year:
- Never leave a fire unattended— even for a moment
- Always check here to see if conditions permit open burning
- Put out fires completely with water— drench, stir with a shovel and drench again
- Do not park hot equipment over dry grass on the road because the grass can ignite
