Wildfire near Grayling 85% contained; source was campfire on private property
Firefighters worked through the night Saturday to battle a wildfire in Crawford County, near Grayling, that grew to an estimated 2,400 acres, forced temporary evacuations by emergency personnel and closed I-75 for most of Saturday, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said.
The wildfire was about 85% contained about mid-day Sunday, the DNR reported on Facebook. I-75 has since reopened in both directions and the evacuation order has been lifted.
The fire started about 1 p.m. Saturday from a campfire on private property, according Laurie Abel of the DNR.
DNR firefighters, along with local and federal firefighters, are battling the blaze located in Grayling Township, four miles southeast of Grayling. The fire was moving west and southwest and multiple buildings were threatened.
“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.”
In addition to ground crews with heavy equipment, a Michigan State Police helicopter, four USDA Forest Service fire boss planes and a Type 1 helicopter were assigned to help suppress the fire, the DNR said.
State Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord, visited the DNR staging area Saturday to talk with the people on the front lines and get more information to report back to his constituents, he told the Petoskey News-Review..
“I represent a very large district, and of course Grayling is kind of at the heart of it, so I’ve actually been hearing a lot about it from people in the surrounding counties that are concerned, is it moving their way or not,” Borton said.
Evacuees were being provided shelter at Beaver Creek Township Hall.
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The DNR recommended anyone in the area to stay indoors with windows shut to avoid smoke, and to drive with care as visibility is limited.
In addition to DNR firefighters, crews assisting with the fire include: Michigan State Police, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Grayling Station 2, Grayling Public Safety, the Gaylord City Fire Department and fire departments from Grayling Township, Kalkaska, Blue Lake, Beaver Creek, Markey Township, Higgins Township, Richfield Township, South Branch Township, Frederic Township, Otsego County, Cold Springs and Denton Township fire departments.
Unprecedented hot and dry conditions for this time of year in Michigan have created extreme fire danger.
In response to the Crawford County fire and a smaller one in Iosco County, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center, according to a release from the governor's office Saturday.
“Today, I am activating our State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to the wildfires in northern Michigan,” Whitmer said in the statement. “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 Iosco County fire, which is 200-300 acres in size according to the governor's release, is contained. Five people were evacuated but are expected to return to their homes that evening.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Grayling wildfire 85% contained; source was private property campfire
