Michigan wildfire that’s burned greater than 3 sq. miles was sparked by campfire on personal land

GRAYLING TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A Michigan wildfire that’s burned greater than 3 sq. miles amid sizzling, dry situations was sparked by a campfire, the state Department of Natural Resources mentioned Sunday.

The Wilderness Trail Fire in Crawford County started about 1 p.m. Saturday close to Staley Lake in Grayling Township and was traced to a campfire on personal property, the department mentioned in a Sunday replace.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources mentioned the hearth, which has scorched greater than 2,000 acres, was 85% contained by Sunday morning after the company’s fireplace crews and companion businesses labored by way of the night time to fight the blaze.

“The crews were working in hilly, sandy terrain and that was difficult. Weather conditions also were hot, dry and windy,” Mike Janisse, an incident commander with the Michigan DNR, mentioned in an announcement.

On Saturday, the wildfire pushed west and southwest, burning by way of stands of jack pine, blended pines and oak, threatening a number of buildings. Heavy smoke from the hearth prompted the closure of Interstate 75 from Saturday afternoon till shortly earlier than midnight, the department mentioned.

Emergency evacuations had been issued for the hearth space however residents had been allowed to return to their properties late Saturday.

The department mentioned the hearth hazard stays very excessive to excessive in most elements of Michigan and people situations are anticipated to persist amid lingering sizzling, dry situations.

Janisse mentioned officers are usually not at the moment granting burn permits for yard particles because of the fireplace threat. He urged residents “to refrain from burning until we get significant rain.”

Grayling Township is positioned about 150 miles north of Lansing.