Grayling wildfire now 100% contained

Petoskey News-Review
·2 min read
Michigan Department of Natural Resource firefighters work to suppress the Wilderness Trail Fire southeast of Grayling on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
Michigan Department of Natural Resource firefighters work to suppress the Wilderness Trail Fire southeast of Grayling on Sunday, June 4, 2023.

GRAYLING TWP. — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced on Wednesday morning that the Wilderness Trail Fire in Crawford County’s Grayling Township has been 100 percent contained.

Fire crews continued putting out hot spots within the burn area on Tuesday as local roads reopened. The fire, estimated at 2,418 acres in size, started at about 1 p.m. on Saturday near Staley Lake.

According to officials, the fire escaped from a campfire on private property. The fire quickly burned in a southwest direction through jack pine, mixed pine and oak in hilly, sandy terrain. The fire caused the evacuation of about 300 people until around 11 p.m. Saturday and closed I-75 in both directions Saturday afternoon and evening.

The fire began around 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Fire departments worked through the night to try to keep the fire contained.
The fire began around 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Fire departments worked through the night to try to keep the fire contained.

More: Grayling wildfire nearly contained; people urged to stay away from area

More: Wildfire near Grayling 85% contained; source was campfire on private property

DNR ground crews working on the fire were assisted by many local agencies and air support, including water-bearing planes and helicopters from the USDA Forest Service and the Michigan State Police.

The DNR is asking people to stay away from the area in Crawford County’s Grayling Township to give fire crews space to finish their work.

“We know it is interesting to see and that people are curious, but we want to make sure we have the room to get our work done safely,” said Mike Janisse, commander of the DNR Incident Management Team that has been assisting with the fire. “Driving on the dry roads creates a great deal of dust, which makes for poor visibility.”

The wildfire in Crawford County, Mich., is pictured. A campfire caused the fire on Saturday, June 3, 2023.
The wildfire in Crawford County, Mich., is pictured. A campfire caused the fire on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Officials warned that roads also are narrow and there is little room for passing.

DNR ground crews working on the fire were assisted by many local agencies and air support, including water-bearing planes and helicopters from the USDA Forest Service and the Michigan State Police.

Smoke continues rising out of trees above a burned through area in Grayling Township on June 4, 2023.
Smoke continues rising out of trees above a burned through area in Grayling Township on June 4, 2023.

Fire danger remains very high to extreme across the state. The DNR is not issuing permits for open burning at this time. If you must build a campfire or cooking fire, keep a close eye on it at all times and keep it small. Make sure you drench it with water, stir and drench again until it is cold to the touch before leaving it.

DNR firefighters statewide have fought more than two dozen fires in the past week.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Grayling wildfire now 100% contained