Crews in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula battle 100-acre wildfire

Crews in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are making progress in battling the wildfire that’s been fueled by warm weather and strong winds.

According to reports, the fire was 60 percent contained by Thursday night.

The state Department of Natural Resources says prime wildfire weather has hit much of the state, including Cowlitz and Lewis counties, and the hot and dry spell will likely last into next week.

The blaze was first reported about 1:05 p.m. Thursday, when tower personnel at Sawyer worldwide Airport reported seeing smoke, according to the state.

“The slash, stumps, debris and stacked piles of logs made for good fuel for the fire, but made it more hard for firefighters working to build a containment line around the fire”, said Pete Glover, incident commander on the fire for the DNR. The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center listed four large fires burning in Washington as of Friday afternoon.

By 7:30 p.m., the fire had spread beyond the logging area. Crews from the Humboldt, Champion, Ishpeming and Republic townships volunteer fire departments were among those involved.

The DNR is using seven bulldozers and six fire engines in “rough rocky terrain”, he said.

Dan Laux, fire prevention specialist for DNR said, “You know we are looking at some great weather everybody’s anxious to get out and enjoy it. And I don’t blame them at all, but you know, take that extra step of precaution when you’re out there doing anything with fire or camp fires”. None have been damaged by the fire.

Joe Derocha of Humboldt Township Fire Department said Lundin Mining Corp. provided firefighters with access to its water supply from the Humboldt Mill.

For now, DNR has enough firefighting resources available due a relative lull in wildfire activity, spokeswoman Janet Pearce said this week. At least $150,000 worth of cut timber was burned, the DNR said.