Marquette, Mich. — Firefighters in Michigan Upper Peninsula continued battling two large wildfires in Marquette and Baraga counties that prompted at least three home evacuations over the weekend, officials said.
A Michigan Department of Natural Resources pilot first spotted the Craig Lake Fire at 1:48 p.m. on Friday, followed by the Ridge Fire at 3:55 p.m. The larger Ridge Fire is estimated at 256 acres about 10 miles northwest of Marquette between County Road 510 and North Basin Drive, while the Craig Lake Fire has burned an estimated 30 acres north of Craig Lake State Park.
Three homes have been evacuated in Marquette County on County Road 510. An evacuation center has been set up at Negaunee Township Hall at 42 East State Highway M-35, with the American Red Cross helping evacuees and their pets. The Marquette County Sheriff Office asked nearby residents to remain ready for evacuations if conditions worsen.
Both fires are in remote, rugged areas that make ground suppression difficult, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said. DNR fire crews are on scene with help from two Fire Boss aircraft from Minnesota and a Michigan State Police Aviation Type 2 helicopter.
Temporary flight restrictions are in place within a 5-nautical-mile radius of both fires. Fire danger remained high as of Monday morning due to high winds and extremely dry conditions, with heavy smoke still possible around Negaunee, Ishpeming, Marquette and Michigamme. The cause of both fires remains under investigation.
