Dry, windy conditions on Monday, May 4, caused wildfires in several Michigan counties, and led to evacuations in one northern Michigan location.
In Oscoda County, some Mio residents were told to evacuate because of a 90-100 acre wildfire, according to the Oscoda County Sheriff’s Office.
The Oscoda County Sheriff Office reported 80% containment of the wildfire near Mapes Road at around 11 p.m. Monday night, May 4, in an update on Facebook. Officials lifted the evacuation and said they will remain on scene until the fire is fully contained, with updates to come via Facebook.
A red flag warning was issued for northern, central and southeast counties in the Lower Peninsula Monday, May 4, which has since expired.
Additional wildfires were reported across the state, ranging in size in the last 24 hours in the Upper and Lower peninsulas, according to the Current Large Wildfire Map operate by the National Interagency Fire Center and Map of Fire.
More on wildfires in Michigan.
Where are active wildfires in Michigan?
The Map of Fire website shows several wildfires burning in Michigan on Tuesday, May 5, including:
How can I find out if there is a wildfire nearby?
There are several online resources to use to help you stay wildfire-aware and updated with active fires in Michigan, including:
Does Michigan typically see wildfires this time of year?
Yes. Wildfire season for Michigan occurs mainly in the spring from April-June, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association. Michigan firefighters respond to 10,000-12,000 wildfires each year of varying sizes.
In May 2012, a lightning strike caused fire to spread and burn near Newberry in the central U.P., known as the Duck Lake Fire. The blaze burned 22,000 acres of land and 136 structures were lost — one of the largest wildfires in the state in the 2000s.
What causes wildfires in Michigan?
A combination of low humidity, heat and windy conditions create high risk for fire to easily catch.
Under such conditions, in Michigan “the main cause (47%) of wildfires in Michigan is burning yard debris, such as grass clippings, leaves, and trash,” according to Michigan Prepares.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Mio-area residents face wildfire evacuation. Where fires are burning
Reporting by Sarah Moore, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
