The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says fire crews on Monday were working to contain a wildfire near Houghton Lake in Roscommon County.
State officials say the fire has been burning since Sunday afternoon east of Old U.S. Highway 27, impacting about 85 acres “in a marshy area of mixed pine and hardwood forest, where dry fuels and gusty winds have challenged firefighting efforts,” according to a news release.
Officials urge the public to avoid the area until further notice. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
“High winds have made suppression challenging, but firefighters are holding the lines and continuing to reinforce containment,” said Jeff Vasher, DNR Lower Peninsula resource protection manager.
In a Facebook post Monday evening, the DNR says most of the Lower Peninsula is under a high or very high fire risk. The DNR says dry conditions are contributing to the high fire conditions throughout the state.
