Road closures in place, multiple agencies responding



Share or view as webpage [ [link removed] ]? |? Update preferences [ [link removed] ]


DNR banner with link to website [ [link removed] ]
"DNR News"



June 3, 2023
Media contact: Laurie Abel <[email protected]>, 517-599-6703 or?Kerry Heckman <[email protected]>,?517-643-1256

DNR crews battling wildfire southeast of Grayling

DNR firefighters and local partners are battling a 1,000-acre wildfire in Crawford County. The fire is located about 4 miles southeast of Grayling in Grayling Township, near Staley Lake Road.?

The wildfire is moving to the west and southwest and threatens multiple buildings. Evacuations are being conducted by emergency personnel. Shelter for evacuees is available at the Grayling Middle School gymnasium,?500 Spruce Street in?Grayling,?and the Beaver Creek Township Hall, 8888 S. Grayling Road.?

Multiple closures are in place:


* Northbound and southbound lanes of I-75 between 4 Mile Road Exit 251 to Down River Road Exit 256 are closed.?
* Staley Lake Road?from M-72 to 4 Mile Road is closed.
* Wilderness Trail from Keystone Landing Road to Staley Lake Road is closed.
* Staley Lake Beach and Neff Lake Beach are closed.

Avoid the area to give crews room to work on suppressing the fire. A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place for a 5-mile perimeter around the fire at heights below 5,000 feet. Do not fly aircraft or drones in this area.

The wildfire has produced an abundance of smoke. Visibility may be reduced on roadways ? drive with care in affected areas. Limit exposure to wildfire smoke by staying indoors with windows shut, especially if you have asthma or another respiratory condition.?

Michigan State Police, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, South Branch Fire Department and Beaver Creek Fire Department personnel are assisting the DNR with fighting the fire.

Ground crews,?heavy equipment,?a Michigan State Police helicopter, and four USDA Forest Service fire boss planes and a Type 1 helicopter have been assigned to help suppress the fire. Aircraft will scoop water from Neff Lake, Shellenbarger Lake and Lake Margrethe.?

The fire cause has not yet been determined.

Michigan is currently experiencing unprecedented hot and dry conditions for this time of year, causing extreme fire danger. The DNR recommends these actions to reduce the risk of wildfire:?


* Never leave a fire unattended, even for a moment.
* Check first to see if conditions permit open burning at?Michigan.gov/BurnPermit [ [link removed] ].
* Always put fires out completely with water. Drench, stir with a shovel and drench again.?
* Don't park hot equipment over dry grass on the roadside, which can ignite.?
* More information is available at Michigan.gov/PreventWildfires [ [link removed] ].?

The DNR will share fire updates via news releases and on the department Twitter account at?Twitter.com/MichiganDNR [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________



twitter icon circle [ [link removed] ]facebook icon circle [ [link removed] ]YouTube icon circle [ [link removed] ]instagram icon [ [link removed] ]pinterest icon circle [ [link removed] ]email icon circle [ [link removed] ]




If you wish to no longer receive emails from the DNR,
please update your preferences here:
Manage Preferences [ [link removed]? ]??|??Delete Profile [ [link removed] ]? |??Help [ [link removed] ]

Need further assistance?
Contact Us [ [link removed] ]??|??Provide Feedback <[email protected]>

Visit us on our website: Michigan.gov/DNR [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Department of Natural Resources ? Constitution Hall, 525 W. Allegan St., PO Box 30028 Lansing MI 48909 ? 1-800-439-1420