The extremely dry conditions in the Upper Peninsula have caused multiple wildfires in the Upper Peninsula over the weekend.
According to Keith Murphy, Fire Management Specialist for the U.P., crews from Newberry and parts of Lower Michigan are working a 42-acre fire on the Tahquamenon River. “The fire is deep in the ground due to the drought conditions,” he said. One structure and some small outbuildings were lost and those are still under investigation.
A smaller fire occurred north of the Chesbrough Lake along with fire just a few miles north of Newberry along M-123 that occurred on Friday. Members of the Newberry Fire Department helped extinguish that fire.
National Forest Service fire crews are battling a 100-acre fire in Baraga County that was located Friday evening. Fires also occurred south of Hessel and in Marquette County.
Murphy said that the U.P. will need significant rain fall before burn permits will be open again.
“Even if we get some moisture, we need to watch since it has been so dry,” he said.