A wildfire in Northern Michigan is now 98% contained, but officials are urging anyone who chooses to visit the area to be cautious.
Known as the Blue Lakes Fire, the blaze has spread across 2,516 acres in Montmorency and Cheboygan counties since a lightning strike caused it on May 11.
All road closures in the fire area have been lifted. However, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources still is working to connect remaining gaps in the containment line and mop up within the fire area, which is northwest of Atlanta.
“If you are in the area, stay on roads,” said Kerry Heckman, DNR fire public information officer. “There may be hot spots or snags, which are trees that can fall over without warning. There may be smoke, and fire crews will still be working in the area.”
Seeing smoke within the fire area is not necessarily cause for alarm and is to be expected, DNR officials said.
A total of 28 DNR firefighters and two emergency medical technicians are on fire duty today, including sawyers cutting down dangerous trees and hand crews working on fire cleanup, as well as a 15-member incident management team and one DNR conservation officer.
Equipment in use includes four engines, one tractor plow and five utility terrain vehicles with water. Those assisting the DNR include Tri-Township EMS and Montmorency County Emergency Management.
The fire, reported at 12:40 p.m. on May 13, smoldered for several days before igniting nearby fuels such as leaves, grass and brush.
There is increased fire danger in Northern Michigan. Due to increased fire risk, the DNR has not been conducting prescribed burns and has not been issuing burn permits.
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