Rain brings relief and new challenges for Ridge and Craig Lake Fire crews
Lightning strike confirmed as cause of Craig Lake Fire
Photo of the Ridge Fire taken Monday afternoon. (Courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources)
Photo of the Craig Lake Fire taken Monday afternoon. (Courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources)
Photo of the Ridge Fire taken Monday afternoon. (Courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources)
Photo of the Craig Lake Fire taken Monday afternoon. (Courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources)
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MARQUETTE AND BARAGA COUNTIES -- Fire activity of two Upper Peninsula wildfires has remained low due to recent rainfall, giving firefighters an opportunity to improve access to remote areas and strengthen containment lines. However, muddy roads, slippery rocks and underground burning continue to pose hazards for crews.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported Tuesday evening that the Ridge Fire and Craig Lake Fire had received measurable rainfall overnight Monday, with one inch of rain on the Ridge Fire and 0.6 inches of rain on the Craig Lake Fire. Rain continued overnight Monday and periodically throughout the day Tuesday.
"The lower fire activity provided the opportunity for firefighters to focus on gaining access to remote areas of the fire, use hose-lays, leaf blowers and hand lines to perform direct attack tactics on the edge of the fire, and work on building containment lines where possible on the Ridge Fire," the MDNR announced Tuesday evening.
Despite the rain and lowered fire activity, the fires were not extinguished as of Wednesday afternoon.
The Ridge Fire -- located 10 miles northwest of Marquette and north of the Dead River Basin west of County Road 510 -- is still estimated to be 450 acres and 20 percent contained. The Craig Lake Fire -- located north of Craig Lake State Park -- is estimated to be 600 acres and 20 percent contained.
According to the MDNR, some of the roads providing access to the fire areas are now difficult to traverse due to mud, ruts and rocks. Both fires are burning in areas with a significant amount of exposed rock, which becomes very slippery and treacherous for firefighters working on suppression efforts.
"Although the rain is definitely helpful, we are also mindful of the additional hazards that it creates for our firefighters," said DNR Incident Commander Nate Stearns. "We're focused on bringing everyone home safely."
The MDNR noted the cooperation of area landowners continues to provide critical information to assist firefighters in gaining necessary access and knowledge of the landscape.
Due to the drought conditions across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the MDNR reported fire activity is burning as deep as 2 feet in the duff layer -- the layer of partially decayed organic matter on the forest floor under the loose leaf litter and above mineral soil -- so rain, alone, does not extinguish it.
With fire burning at these depths, it can also reportedly 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.
The MDNR recently confirmed in a news release the cause of the Craig Lake Fire as being a lightning strike. There were multiple storms that produced lightning across the Upper Peninsula between Monday, Oct. 5, and Thursday, Oct. 8.
The MDNR also said it is not unusual for a lightning strike to smolder for a few days before weather conditions, such as high winds, cause it to spread into dry fuels resulting in a wildfire. The Craig Lake Fire was detected by an MDNR pilot at 1:48 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9.
The cause of the Ridge Fire -- which was spotted by a DNR pilot Friday, Oct. 9, at 3:55 p.m. -- remains under investigation.
As of Wednesday afternoon, a temporary flight restriction (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 status of the "Ready, Set, Go!" protocol for residents along North Basin Drive in Marquette remains at a "Ready" status as of Wednesday afternoon. Residents are encouraged to continue to be prepared in case conditions change.
The Noquemanon Trail system west of the trailhead on County Road 510, Marquette County, remains closed.
The MDNR asks the public 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.
In their release Tuesday evening, the MDNR stated they had 53 firefighters on the ground on the Ridge Fire and 19 firefighters on the ground on the Craig Lake Fire. A 19-person MDNR Incident Management Team is managing both fires.
Additional support is being provided by Michigan State Police, Marquette County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management, Baraga County Emergency Management, Michigamme-Spurr Fire Department and DNR Law Enforcement Division.
As always, the MDNR reminds people to check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit before planning to burn yard debris or start a campfire, and to have an accessible water source nearby.
For more fire safety tips, visit Michigan.gov/PreventWildfires.
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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021, ext. 148, or svogelmann@dailypress.net.