ROSCOMMON COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Firefighters have mostly contained a wildfire near Roscommon State Forest Area, which spread to cover 101 acres since it was first reported on Sunday, Oct 5.
Crews work on containment.
The fire grew 16 acres since the update released yesterday by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). However, Jeff Vasher, resource protection manager for the Lower Peninsula at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said the fire is expected to stop advancing.
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“It’s as big as it is going to get,” Vasher said.
According to Vasher, firefighters have contained 95% of the fire, but it will take a few days for the blaze to die out completely.
“We’ll be mopping it up for several days,” Vasher said. “It’s a big area. It’s a swampy, low marsh area, so that’s gonna take some time, but we got crews out there today, and they’ll be out there for several days.”
Rain needed.
Vasher said half an inch of rain helped subdue the fire a little Monday night, but much more rain is needed to overcome the dry conditions in Michigan.
“We just need more rain. What we need is probably a good two to three days soaking, you know?” Vasher said. “Steady rain, that’s what we need. The drought is so high, that’s the problem.”
According to Vasher, the fire poses no risk to residential locations, as it is in a remote area near Houghton Lake in Roscommon county, miles away from the closest town.
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The source of the fire is still currently under investigation.
DNR continues sounding the alarm.
The DNR warned Michiganders about the current high fire risk in a release yesterday, saying the conditions are caused by high temperatures, low humidity, and dry vegetation.
“We are currently experiencing severe drought conditions across the mid-to-lower peninsula,” Paul Rogers, DNR fire prevention specialist said in a statement yesterday. “While there is some chance of rain tonight and tomorrow, expected rainfall amounts will not be enough to ease the drought or reduce the overall fire danger.”