As the fall colors begin to peak and the hunting season gets underway, Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is calling for heightened fire safety awareness. Dry conditions have drastically increased the risk of wildfires in the northern parts of Michigan, prompting DNR officials to emphasize caution.
The DNR has identified human activities as the cause of 90 percent of wildfires in the state and is asking everyone to “keep that in mind” this weekend when outdoors.
While cooler fall temperatures may invite outdoor activities, DNR has warned that these conditions do not mitigate the heightened fire risk brought about by the prolonged dryness, especially in areas littered with debris from last spring’s ice storm.
Despite crews achieving full containment of the 101-acre Benzie Road Fire in Roscommon County, Paul Rogers, a fire prevention specialist with the DNR, stated, “Nine out of 10 wildfires in Michigan are started by human activities and weโd like to see everyone keep that in mind, especially in the area affected by the ice storm.”
