‘Ready’ status lifted for residents near UP wildfire
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After a week of living under the "Ready, Set, Go!" protocol for potential evacuations initiated in response to the Ridge Fire 10 miles northwest of Marquette, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Marquette County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management on Monday lifted the "Ready" status for residents along North Basin Drive.
Recent rain and cooler weather provided an opportunity for firefighters to make significant progress establishing containment lines to prevent the fire from spreading toward the residential structures, the DNR said in a news release. A more accurate analysis, including a drone flight that collected infrared data to pinpoint the fire hot spots, helped inform the decision, officials said.
"Thanks to the hard work of the fire crews out on the line and the information that we were able to gather through various tools like the infrared drone flight, we're happy to be able to lift the 'Ready' status for area residents," said Nate Stearns, Rugged Terrain Complex incident commander. "Although we do not anticipate the need to reactivate the evacuation protocol, we will continue to monitor the fire activity along each of the management action points and will act if necessary."
A total of 73 firefighters continued to work on the three fires managed under the Rugged Terrain Complex.
A DNR Incident Management Team is managing the complex. Additional support is being provided by the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement, Marquette National Weather Service, Michigan State Police, Marquette County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management, Gogebic County Sheriff's Office, Gogebic County Emergency Management, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigamme-Spurr Fire Department, Bessemer Township Fire Department, Wakefield City Fire Department and DNR Law Enforcement Division.
The DNR provided summaries of the individual fires:
RIDGE FIRE
The Ridge Fire estimate remains at 466 acres with 50% containment. The Ridge Fire is 10 miles northwest of Marquette and north of the Dead River Basin and west of County Road 510. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Noquemanon Trail system west of the trailhead on County Road 510 remains closed.
CRAIG LAKE FIRE
The Craig Lake Fire in Baraga and Marquette counties is estimated at 606 acres and is 90% contained. The cause of this fire has been confirmed as a lightning strike. Craig Lake State Park north of Craig Lake proper and the Teddy Lake Yurt will remain closed through the end of October to ensure the safety of the public as wildfire suppression efforts continue.
The North Country Trail within Craig Lake State Park also remains closed.
The remainder of Craig Lake State Park is open to the public.
BLACK RIVER FIRE
The Black River Fire in Gogebic County, at about 350 acres, is 70% contained. A lightning strike is the confirmed cause of this fire. The public should continue avoiding the area to protect everyone's safety and to avoid interfering in fire suppression operations.