Firefighters are still working to control the Meridian Boundary fire in Crawford County in northern lower Michigan which has consumed 8,790 acres and burned 12 homes, damaged two others, and destroyed or damaged another 39 outbuildings. The fire is 65% contained with a fire line around 95% of the perimeter. There have been no reported injuries. The evacuation order is still in effect but an update on that status will be issued later today.
The fire started when a resident with a burning permit was burning leaves on a day when Red Flag warnings had been issued for some areas in northern Michigan.
The Range 9 fire that started on Camp Grayling military base was controlled at 1,040 acres Tuesday night (map of the fire). It started when a controlled burn, called a “controlled pre-burn” on the base, escaped. Camp Grayling frequently conducts these burns, executed by military personnel with little or no formal National Wildfire Coordinating Group wildfire training, in order to reduce the threat caused by fires started on their firing ranges. If a fire occurs down range while a unit is training, they must stop training until the fire is controlled, thus wasting valuable range time. It is believed that four privately owned summer cottages were destroyed when the fire burned outside the base.
A map of the Meridian Boundary fire southeast of Grayling is below. Click on it to see a larger version.
I was there at the Range 9 Fire. To say we had no or little training is incorrect. National Wildfire Coordinating Group wildfire training was done online and we had experience personal in the group. Also the Red Flag warning was not posted until late afternoon.
if interested, another big fire for this area is Stephan Bridge Rd. Fire (1989 i think) The anniversary of this fire is May 10th, same as Mack Lake but of course a few years apart.
I was googling the area last night and found the 1980 Mack Lake Fire which is documented here:
http://nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nc083.pdf
It started 8 miles almost due east of this fire.
Lots of good stuff in that report. The Mack Lake fire ranks in the top for forest fire spread and BTU release rate recorded in North America.
It was a prescribed burn that got out of control, resulting in a LODD (Dozer Operator), 44 structures, and 20,000 acres lost.
Perhaps most interesting: This area of Michigan, per tree ring research, experiences a 10,000 acre fire an average of every 28 years.
They seem to follow a basic pattern — the weather isn’t remarkably bad (moderately warm day, moderately low humidity, moderate winds) but once they get going they run like a bat out of hell until it’s either early evening or they run out of jack pine and into hardwoods. Then the fire goes to ground and is easily contained overnight.
The last major fire before this one was Mack Lake, so it this was pretty much right on schedule.
I also found out Jack Pine is closely related to Lodgepole Pine; close enough that they can hybridize with each other.
Wow, lots of good information there as usual Dal. Thanks.
most useful imformation I have found on the fire.
sounds like the Meridian is more contained now. Hope the weather doesn’t create more havoc tomorrow, though. Keep it coming Bill!