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Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include the latest information from state officials.
A wildfire in Crawford County, near Grayling, was quenched overnight Saturday by firefighters, spreading to an estimated 2,400 acres and forcing emergency workers to temporarily evacuate the state, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Interstate 75 was closed for most of Saturday, it said.
The DNR reported on Facebook that the wildfires were about 85% extinguished around noon Sunday. Interstate 75 has since reopened in both directions and an evacuation order has been issued. Canceled.
DNR’s Laurie Abel said the fire started around 1 p.m. Saturday from a campfire on private property.
DNR firefighters, along with local and federal firefighters, are fighting a fire in Grayling Township, four miles southeast of Grayling. Fires spread west and southwest, threatening several buildings.
“The guys were working in hills and sand, and it was tough,” said Mike Janis, Incident Commander for the Michigan DNR Incident Management Team, which assisted with the fire. “Weather conditions were also hot, dry and windy.”
In addition to heavily armed ground personnel, a Michigan State Police helicopter, four USDA Forest Service fire chiefs, and a Type 1 helicopter were assigned to help fight the fire, the DNR said.
Rep. Ken Bourton (R-Gaylord) told Petoskey News Review that he visited the DNR relay area on Saturday to talk to people on the front lines and get more information to report to voters.
“I represent a very large district, and of course Grayling is kind of at the heart of it. So I’ve actually heard a lot of talk about this from people in surrounding counties. “I have concerns about whether things are going as planned,” Bolton said.
Evacuees were provided shelter at Beaver Creek Township Hall.
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The DNR advised people in the area to stay indoors with windows closed to avoid smoke and to drive with caution due to limited visibility.
In addition to DNR firefighters, those who participated in the firefighting included Michigan State Police, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Grayling Station 2, Grayling Public Safety, City of Gaylord Fire Department, Grayling Township, Kalkaska. , including the Blue Lake Fire Station. , Beaver Creek, Marquee Township, Higgins Township, Litchfield Township, South Branch Township, Frederick Township, Otsego County, Cold Springs and Denton Township fire departments.
Unprecedented heat and dryness for this time of year in Michigan creates an extreme fire hazard.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center in response to the Crawford County fire and the Iosco County fire, according to a statement Saturday in the governor’s office.
“Today, I launched the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate an all-out response to the wildfires in northern Michigan,” Whitmer said in a statement. “By taking this action, we can ensure that state and local first responders have what they need to put this fire out and prevent loss of life and property. We would like to thank the first responders for their efforts.”
The Iosco County fire was extinguished on 200 to 300 acres, the governor said. Five people evacuated, but plan to return to their homes in the evening.
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