MARQUETTE, Mich. — Firefighters are battling two Upper Peninsula wildfires that have burned nearly 300 acres, forced temporary evacuations near Marquette and put more homes on standby as rugged ground and gusty winds slow the work.
The larger Ridge Fire was estimated at about 256 acres on Sunday about 10 miles northwest of Marquette between County Road 510 and North Basin Drive, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said. Three homes on County Road 510 were evacuated. The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office opened an evacuation center at Negaunee Township Hall at 42 East State Highway M-35, where the American Red Cross is assisting people and pets.
People living along North Basin Drive have been encouraged to be ready to evacuate. Officials urged them to clear dry brush within 30 to 100 feet of homes, pack medicine and documents, and watch DNR and sheriff updates. The fire had grown significantly overnight in difficult terrain, with wind gusts near Marquette of up to 31 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
About 40 firefighters were on the Ridge Fire, backed by two Fire Boss aircraft from Minnesota that scoop and drop water and a Michigan State Police Aviation Type 2 helicopter. The Noquemanon Trail system is closed west of the trailhead on County Road 510.
The second blaze, the Craig Lake Fire in Baraga County, was estimated at about 30 acres north of Craig Lake State Park. Twelve firefighters were improving access and clearing vegetation down to bare mineral soil in remote, rugged ground. Temporary flight restrictions are in place within a 5-nautical-mile radius of both fires below 3,500 feet.
A DNR pilot spotted both fires Friday afternoon, finding Craig Lake at 1:48 p.m. and the Ridge Fire at 3:55 p.m. Causes remain under investigation. Keith Murphy of DNR Incident Command said both fires are fueled by conifers and hardwoods on ridge tops and balsam and spruce in lowlands, and that public and firefighter safety remain the top priorities. An incident management team was preparing to take command, with support from Michigan State Police, the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office and DNR Law Enforcement.
