ESCANABA — Spring is the season for wildfires, with most of Michigan’s wildfires occurring in April, May and June.

According to Jay Osterberg, the fire supervisor of the Department of Natural Resources Escanaba Forest Management Unit, spring weather increases the chance of fire because dead and dry fuels are readily available to burn. Dead and dry fuels are the grass and leaves from last year.

“In June, once you get full leaf out on the trees and the vegetation greens up then the risk decreases unless you get a long dry spell,” Osterberg said.

The Escanaba Forest Management Unit has two field offices, one in Escanaba and one in Stephenson. Between the Escanaba and Stephenson field offices, they responded to 23 fires last year.

“Which is slightly above average for us so it was a little busier last year,” Osterberg said.

The DNR has a mutual aid agreement with all the local volunteer fire departments.

Osterberg said they will assist with a fire when the fire departments request it. He explained the volunteer fire departments will also assist the DNR if they request it. He said this is usually after responding to a fire when they spot one in an aircraft.

There are two aircrafts assigned to the Upper Peninsula. One is stationed in Newberry and theother in Houghton.

Osterberg explained a two-plane pattern is used, with one plane following an east pattern and the other following a west pattern.

The DNR uses Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS) to predict the fire danger every day. Osterberg explained they are able to pull up the data collected from RAWS on their computers and see the daily ratings of the local areas.

The RAWS look at precipitation, wind, temperature and relative humidity to predict fire weather conditions, Osterberg explained.

Historically, the fire season starts in the first part of April. Osterberg said there was a wet beginning this year, but the DNR always staffs accordingly with fire conditions by using the RAWS.

“Conditions can change the next day in spring until green-up. You can get rain one day and it can be dry the next in the spring, just because of the dead fuel that is readily available to burn,” he said. Green-up is a term used to describe when there are full leaves and vegetation is green.

The RAWS are also used for the Smokey Bear fire danger signs. The signs are change accordingly to the information found through RAWS.

Osterberg said the Escanaba office is in the process of getting a new sign that will be remote automated.

To remain safe this wildfire season, Osterberg encouraged everyone to check the DNR burn permit website before burning. The website, www.michigan.gov/burnpermit, allows residents to select their counties and specific township and find out if they can or cannot burn.

“So first check the website and then if conditions warrant, make sure they clear the area before igniting the brush or leaves. So clear the area, and I always tell people to check for overhead hazards too. Make sure there are no power lines or vegetation that you could ignite above it. And then make sure you have a water source close by,” Osterberg said.

He also advised making sure the fire is out by adding water, stirring and repeating those steps until cold.

Osterberg suggested a safe alternative to burning is composting leaves and yard debris.

This year also happens to be Smokey Bear’s 75th birthday.

“It’s Smokey’s 75th birthday this year. We can help celebrate his birthday by being careful with our campfires in and around the forest,” Osterberg said.