Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Michigan

Michigan wildfire that burned over 3 square miles sparked by campfire

MI Department of Natural Resources said the fire was 85% contained on Sunday morning

Associated Press
Published
close
Fox News Flash top headlines for June 5 Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for June 5

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

A Michigan wildfire that's burned more than 3 square miles amid hot, dry conditions was sparked by a campfire, the state Department of Natural Resources said Sunday.

The Wilderness Trail Fire in Crawford County began about 1 p.m. Saturday near Staley Lake in Grayling Township and was traced to a campfire on private property, the department said in a Sunday update.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources said the fire, which has scorched more than 2,000 acres, was 85% contained by Sunday morning after the agency's fire crews and partner agencies worked through the night to combat the blaze.

MI MAN WHO SERVED 21 YEARS FOR WRONGFUL DOUBLE HOMICIDE CONVICTION HAS CHARGES DROPPED

"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, said in a statement.

Michigan fire

An emergency personnel aircraft is used to suppress the wildfire near Grayling, Michigan, on June 3, 2023. (The Michigan Department of Natural Resources via AP)

On Saturday, the wildfire pushed west and southwest, burning through stands of jack pine, mixed pines and oak, threatening multiple buildings. Heavy smoke from the fire prompted the closure of Interstate 75 from Saturday afternoon until shortly before midnight, the department said.

JUDGE RELEASES MICHIGAN MAN WHO CLAIMED WRONGFUL DOUBLE HOMICIDE CONVICTION

Emergency evacuations were issued for the fire area but residents were allowed to return to their homes late Saturday.

The department said the fire danger remains very high to extreme in most parts of Michigan and those conditions are expected to persist amid lingering hot, dry conditions.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Janisse said officials are not currently granting burn permits for yard debris due to the fire risk. He urged residents "to refrain from burning until we get significant rain."

Grayling Township is located about 150 miles north of Lansing.