Drone photos show damage of brush fire

Todd Heywood
·2 min read

UPDATE: This story has been updated to include the day of the fire, Wednesday, and provide a map of the general area where the fire occurred.

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The Ingham County Emergency Management released still photos from a drone showing the extensive damage of a brush fire in Ingham County Wednesday.

The fire was ignited by a homeowner who was burning debris, a post on the agency’s Facebook reports. The agency reports the wind picked up and spread embers from that fire igniting the larger brush fire.

The fire occurred

Three fire department responded to the fire: Onondaga, Leslie and Hamlin.

Still image from drone footage showing the burn damage from a brush fire. (Courtesy Ingham County Emergency Management)
Still image from drone footage showing the burn damage from a brush fire. (Courtesy Ingham County Emergency Management)
Still image from drone footage showing the burn damage from a brush fire. (Courtesy Ingham County Emergency Management)
Still image from drone footage showing the burn damage from a brush fire. (Courtesy Ingham County Emergency Management)
Still image from drone footage showing the burn damage from a brush fire. (Courtesy Ingham County Emergency Management)
Still image from drone footage showing the burn damage from a brush fire. (Courtesy Ingham County Emergency Management)
Still image from drone footage showing the burn damage from a brush fire. (Courtesy Ingham County Emergency Management)
Still image from drone footage showing the burn damage from a brush fire. (Courtesy Ingham County Emergency Management)
The fire occurred near the intersection of Gale Rd. and Ferris Rd. in rural Ingham County on Wednesday. (Screen shot of Google map/WLNS)
The fire occurred near the intersection of Gale Rd. and Ferris Rd. in rural Ingham County on Wednesday. (Screen shot of Google map/WLNS)

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reports the majority of Michigan wildfires are ignited by debris burning by human beings. Michigan’s fire season heats up generally in April, May and June.

The agency has these recommendations to prevent contributing to brush and wildfires:

  • Pay attention to the fire danger in your area. Don’t burn debris when conditions are dry or windy. Unsafe burning of leaves, brush and other debris is a main cause of wildfires.

  • Clear away flammable material surrounding the fire so it won’t creep into dry vegetation.

  • Keep campfires small, and do not leave before they are fully extinguished.

  • Have a shovel and water available at all times when you are burning. Be sure and douse fires with plenty of water, stir, and add more water until everything is wet.

  • Do not cover a campfire with soil; it may simply smolder before coming back to life.

  • Embers can re-ignite. Make sure they are out completely.

  • Consider composting or mulching yard debris rather than burning it.

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