HIGH WINDS PEELED off about half of the sheet metal roof over the grandstands at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds in Norway. A contractor had planned to work on replacing the roof Monday but cancelled due to the conditions. (Mark Bubloni photo)

High winds caused damage and downed power lines across the region Monday, sparking numerous wildfires and cutting electricity in a number of areas.

The winds Monday afternoon tore off about half of the sheet metal roof over the grandstands at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds in Norway, with one piece helping to light a grass fire just behind the stands after it hit a power line, said John Degenaer, chair of the fair board.

“Peeled it back just like a can,” Degenaer said.

The wind blew enough smoke from the blaze across U.S. 8 that Degenaer feared the grandstands had caught fire, but they were not affected, he said.

And the damage is expected to be quickly repaired — contractors had planned to start Monday on a $128,000 project to replace the roof but held off work because of the winds, Degenaer said.

“I think it (the wind) was trying to help them out,” Degenaer joked.

The National Weather Service office in Negaunee had issued a wind advisory in effect until 11 p.m. Monday for Dickinson County, stating that south to southeasterly winds could gust up to 50 mph.

Fire crews from throughout the region, in both Michigan and Wisconsin, were called to numerous wildfires, mostly caused by trees falling on power lines.

As of 8 p.m., We Energies posted on its website that 1,435 customers in Dickinson County were without service, including 391 in Breitung Township, along with 1,870 customers in Iron County and 1,283 in Florence County.

Wisconsin Public Service posted that at 8 p.m. about 4,624 customers in northeastern Wisconsin had lost power.

Today is expected to see a chance of rain and thunderstorms into tonight, then again Wednesday night into Thursday.