Fires, forced evacuations, highway closures in Michigan wildfires
Wildfires in northern Michigan burn down 3,600 acres, forcing evacuations and nearby highway closures
(CNN) – Wildfires in northern Michigan burned down 3,600 acres on Saturday, forcing people to evacuate and prompting the closure of nearby highways, officials said. The fire is centered in Grayling Township, about 80 miles from Traverse City, and threatens to spread to the west and southwest. “Evacuations are being conducted by paramedics,” the state Department of Natural Resources said in a statement. A 5-mile section of Interstate 75 was closed to traffic in both directions while crews worked to extinguish the fire, and a temporary flight restriction was issued for a 5-mile perimeter less than 5,000 feet around the fire. . Firefighters are attacking flames from the ground and ground. The plane is pumping water from Lake Neff, Lake Schellenberger and Lake Margrethe, the statement said. Crawford County Sheriff Ryan Swope said in a statement that power had been cut to the area for the safety of firefighters working under power lines. The Ministry of Natural Resources said in an earlier statement that the cause of the fire is still unknown. Michigan is experiencing “unprecedented” heat and dryness for this time of year, and fires are erupting, creating an extreme fire hazard, the statement added. Bushfires on Saturday created thick smoke in the area, and the department warned neighbors to stay indoors with closed windows to limit their exposure to wildfire smoke. The Department of Natural Resources also said visibility could be reduced on roads. The combination of warm temperatures, low humidity, strong winds and dry fuel will all increase the risk of fires in the coming days, the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids said in a tweet. .
(CNN) — Wildfires in northern Michigan burned down 3,600 acres on Saturday, forcing people to evacuate and closing nearby highways, officials said.
Centered in Grayling Township, about 80 miles from Traverse City, the fire has spread west and southwest, threatening multiple buildings and the state’s Department of Natural Resources. said in a statement.
“Evacuation is being carried out by ambulance crews,” the ministry said.
A 5-mile section of Interstate 75 was closed to traffic in both directions while crews worked to extinguish the fire, and a temporary flight restriction was issued for a 5-mile perimeter less than 5,000 feet around the fire. .
Firefighters are attacking the blaze from the ground and from the air, using aircraft that draw water from Lake Neff, Lake Schellenberger and Lake Margrethe, according to a statement.
Crawford County Sheriff Ryan Swope said in a statement that power had been cut to the area for the safety of firefighters working under power lines.
The Ministry of Natural Resources said in an earlier statement that the cause of the fire is still unknown.
Michigan is experiencing “unprecedented” heat and dryness for this time of year, and fires are erupting, creating an extreme fire hazard, the statement added.
Bushfires on Saturday created thick smoke in the area, and the department warned neighbors to stay indoors with closed windows to limit their exposure to wildfire smoke.
The Department of Natural Resources also said visibility could be reduced on roads.
Warm temperatures, low humidity, high winds and dry fuel all combine to increase the risk of fires in the next few days, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids. said in a tweet.
https://www.wlwt.com/article/northern-michigan-wildfire-burns-through-3-600-acres-forcing-evacuations-and-the-closure-of-a-nearby-highway/44084564 Fires, forced evacuations, highway closures in Michigan wildfires
