Windy days expand Ridge Fire in Marquette County
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The Ridge Fire in Marquette County grew by about 30 acres on its west side in recent days due to winds pushing the blaze, bringing the overall fire to almost 500 acres, officials said.
Despite that, it remains well within firefighters' confinement strategy, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources stated in a news release.
Winds also contributed to two other Upper Peninsula fires over the weekend, both also in Marquette County: a 4-acre fire in Marquette Township near Wetmore Pond that firefighters refer to as the Game 2 Fire, and an 11-acre fire in Sands Township known as the Silver Leaf Fire. DNR firefighters worked with local fire departments to battle those fires.
The Ridge Fire is still burning deep in the duff layer of the forest floor, composed of fallen leaves and organic matter.
This fire is about 10 miles northwest of Marquette, between County Road 510 and North Basin Drive. It was spotted by airplane Oct. 9 and is part of the Rugged Terrain Complex, which also includes the 606-acre Craig Lake Fire in Baraga County and the 350-acre Black River Fire near Wakefield.
"We continue to monitor it daily from the air and on the ground, and we're keeping a close watch on it, so we can continue to hold and improve the lines that we have," Peter Glover, fire supervisor in the DNR's Gwinn Unit, said in the news release.
The same steep rocky terrain that has made the Ridge Fire difficult to fight also contributes to keeping it from spreading, Glover said. Trails and roads also help keep fire from spreading.
"There are a lot of natural features that check this fire," Glover said. "What's going to stop this fire and put it out is season-ending rain and/or snow."
Glover said people who live near the Ridge Fire may still see and smell smoke, depending on the direction of the wind.
Other Rugged Terrain Complex fires are largely contained and within the same footprint they have been, according to the DNR.
"The DNR is continuing to monitor all of these daily, and we have good plans in place," Glover said.
As always, the DNR reminds people to check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit before planning to burn yard debris or start a campfire, and to have an accessible water source nearby. For more fire safety tips, go online to Michigan.gov/PreventWildfires.