Today’s MI Environment story was originally published by Kathleen Lavey of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and focused on wildfires in Michigan. Wildfires affect overall air quality, and smoke and ash from these fires can cause or worsen health issues, especially in those with breathing problems, like asthma. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) measures a variety of air pollutants in over 40 locations statewide. Staff in EGLE’s Air Quality Division monitor levels of pollutants and will issue advisories if air quality is likely to be harmful to health. You can sign up to get air quality alerts at Enviroflash.info/signup.cfm.
Look out the window. Depending on where you are in Michigan, you might see tentative green grass or monumental spring mud.
In any case, make no mistake: Michigan’s wildland fire season is on.
“Some local fire departments have already started running wildland fires,” said Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Rogers and other fire-qualified staff in DNR’s Forest Resources Division met recently to discuss the outlook for this season and develop plans to keep Michigan’s people and forests safe from the threat of wildfire. The season generally begins in early spring, ending with winter snowfall.
DNR firefighters and equipment are stationed strategically across the state to protect Michigan’s 20 million acres of forest land, which includes nearly 4 million acres of state forest.
The season generally begins in early spring, with the highest danger in spring and early summer. Risk lessens somewhat as trees “green up,” or bring sap up from their roots, in summer.
Because of Michigan’s wetter climate, the state rarely sees fires as vast or long-lasting as the fires they assist with in western states.
During 2021, Michigan’s largest fire was the Brittle Fire, about 5,600 acres in the northeastern Lower Peninsula on federal land. Prior to that, the most recent large fire was the Duck Lake Fire that started with a lightning strike in May 2012 north of Newberry in the Upper Peninsula. It burned 21,135 acres in three weeks’ time.
Those large fires are rare and the exception to the DNR’s goal – put out wildland fires as quickly as possible, while they’re still under 10 acres in size.
During 2021, DNR firefighters battled fires on 2,379 acres and conducted prescribed burns on about 5,100 acres. Prescribed burns are carefully planned fires that mimic the effect of natural fire on the landscape. They are used to improve habitat for wildlife and remove invasive species.
Despite mud, prescribed burns started in March. In addition, the spring danger of wildland fire from natural or human causes is very real.
“Last year was probably one of the busier springs we’ve had in a long time,” said Jeff Vasher, fire specialist in Roscommon. “It was really dry, and we started really early. Our unit started running fires on March 13 and went into June.”
This year may pose similar challenges.
“We didn’t get a lot of snow this year, and the vegetation from last year is still standing up,” he said. “That makes it rough for us, because when it stands up like that it dries out quicker and it burns a lot faster.”
Even though the ground may be saturated with water, grasses that have been dormant through the winter are dried out and burn quickly.
This means that people need to be very careful and check to see if the DNR is issuing burn permits prior to burning yard waste or other allowed materials.
“Always check on the status of burn permits with your local fire department or with the DNR before you start burning,” Rogers said. “Always check the weather. If it’s windy, dry and warm, do not burn. A fire can escape very quickly under those conditions.”
Before burning yard waste, go to the burn permit website to make sure weather conditions allow.
Some additional important fire safety tips include:
Throughout spring, summer and fall, DNR fire managers have a phone call every Thursday to discuss the weather forecast and the risk of fire in each area of the state. If needed, they’ll move staff around geographically to meet expected needs.
“We’re ready for the season,” Vasher said. “The tactics meetings get us started. It’s to get your mind set that fire season is coming, that your equipment is ready, that you have everything you need for the year.”
Caption: Fire in Atlanta, Mich.