KALKASKA -- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is warning Northern Michigan residents tonight that high winds and light amounts of rain are increasing the danger of wildfires. In Kalkaska, fire crews have been battling a wildfire near Cannon Creek since Sunday.
Steven Cameron is a Forest Fire Officer for the DNR. He says, "The fire was burning in the pines it was hard to get to we had to use DNR dozer to get in build a road around so we could get into it."
The DNR believes an unattended campfire sparked the blaze. More than a dozen acres of forest are now black ash. It's something fire crews could see a lot more of this spring.
"For the next six to eight weeks we have dry flammable fuels, high pressure sets in, increases winds, That's recipe for wildfire," said Bill O'Neill, a Field Manager for the DNR.
The wildfire in Kalkaska is just one of 14 fires the lower peninsula saw this past weekend. So far this year, 44 fires have burned almost 250 acres in the lower peninsula. With the fire danger alert bumped up to high the DNR says there are things you can do to prevent a fire.
They say you need to get a burning permit if you are going to burn. On days where it's windy they're not issuing permits -- so know if its legal to burn. If you cause a wildfire you may have to pay serious fines.
