UP wildfires monitored
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UPPER PENINSULA -- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources continues to monitor fires in the Rugged Terrain Complex and others. Winds have caused the boundaries of the fire areas to grow in recent days.
Burning deep in the duff -- a layer of dead leaves and other decomposing organic matter -- the Ridge Fire in Marquette County grew by about 30 acres on its west side due to winds pushing the blaze, bringing the overall fire to almost 500 acres. It is considered half contained.
The fire is about 10 miles northwest of Marquette, between County Road 510 and North Basin Drive. It is part of the Rugged Terrain Complex, which also includes the 606-acre Craig Lake Fire in Baraga County and the 362-acre Black River Fire near Wakefield in Gogebic County.
Two other smaller fires began over the weekend. One, the Game II Fire in Marquette Township near Wetmore Pond, burned about 4.6 acres before MDNR firefighters declared it fully contained on Sunday.
The other, located in Sands Township and referred to as the Silver Leaf Fire,
remains active and has affected t least 12 acres.
Despite the growth and new areas burning, “it remains well within firefighters’ confinement strategy,” the MDNR said on Wednesday.
The largest active U.P. fire, the Craig Lake one, is now considered 90 percent contained. It was detected on Oct. 9 along with the Ridge Fire.
On the 50 percent contained Ridge Fire:
"We continue to monitor it daily from the air and on the ground, and we’re keeping a close watch on it, so we can continue to hold and improve the lines that we have," said Peter Glover, fire supervisor in the DNR’s Gwinn Unit.
The same steep rocky terrain that has made the Ridge Fire difficult to fight also contributes to keeping it from spreading, Glover said. Trails and roads also help keep fire from spreading.
"There are a lot of natural features that check this fire," Glover said. "What's going to stop this fire and put it out is season-ending rain and/or snow."
Glover said people who live near the Ridge Fire may still see and smell smoke, depending on the direction of the wind.
"The DNR Is continuing to monitor all of these daily, and we have good plans in place," Glover said.
As burning yard debris and having campfires is not always permissible depending on conditions, people should check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit before burning. An accessible water source should always be kept nearby. Michigan.gov/PreventWildfires has additional tips.