GARYLING (WWJ) - Crews are continuing the fight to contain a massive forest fire that's been burning Northern Michigan since the early afternoon hours on Saturday, prompting evacuations of homes and business while parts of I-75 were shut down.
In an update at 12 a.m. Sunday, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said earlier evacuations have been lifted, but multiple agencies are still battling the fire, called the Wilderness Trail Fire, in Crawford County.
It is estimated to be burning 2,400 acres currently.
The wildfire starting around 1 p.m. Saturday, officials said, about 4 miles southeast of Grayling.
"Evacuations were initially in place, but they have since been lifted," the DNR said. "Individuals driving in this part of northern Michigan can expect low visibility due to smoke from the fire and are asked to drive safely. As a reminder, please stay clear of the fire area to give fire crews space needed to work on suppression efforts."
In addition to the DNR, Michigan State Police, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Grayling Station 2, Grayling Public Safety, the Gaylord City Fire Department and fire departments from Grayling Township, Kalkaska, Blue Lake, Beaver Creek, Markey Township, Higgins Township, Richfield Township, South Branch Township, Frederic Township, Otsego County, Cold Springs and Denton Township fire departments are all assisting with the fire.
Aerial view of fire line near a roadway.MI DNR
Eyewitness and former WWJ traffic reporter Lance Howard was the first to notify WWJ of the fire in Grayling, burning east of I-75 between 4 Mile and M-72.
"We were out golfing when we saw large plumes of smoke developing in Crawford County," Howard told WWJ's Luke Sloan in a live interview. "Now this is a couple of miles east of Grayling."
But in a matter of an hour, the fire had grown beyond where Howard first spotted it.
"The area of evacuation has now expanded -- it is now between I-75, you cannot go east of I-75 on Four Mile Road or M-72. The original boundaries were between Barker Lake Road which is east of 75," Howard said at 4:30 p.m. "We have seen an increasing number of National Guard troops, national Guard vehicles assisting all of the local, state and county officials trying to contain this fire."
Previously closed sections of I-75 between 4 Mile Road (exit 251) to North Down River Road (exit 256) are now open, the DNR stated. Drivers can check MiDrive for the most up-to-date information on road closings.
The remaining closures still in effect are:
• 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 Kneff Lake Beach are closed
"Avoid the area to give crews room to work on suppressing the fire," the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said in a press release. "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."
Howard said it appears the blaze is traveling southwest in that area and the scene is "very active" with not only DNR officials on scene, but local, county and state crews at the scene -- as well as aerial support.
"We are seeing that there are fire department response from Grayling, Beaver Creek, the DNR, also some DNR airplanes have been doing water drop flying between the fire and Lake Margrethe, which is on the National Guard Base up here in Grayling," he explained to Sloan.
The DNR confirmed that ground crews, heavy equipment, a Michigan State Police helicopter and four USDA Forest Service fire boss planes and a Type 1 helicopter have been called in to help suppress the fire.
In addition to Lake Margrethe, the aircraft has been collecting water from Neff Lake and Shellenbarger Lake, DNR officials said.
Law enforcement had closed Barker Lake Road first when the fire began threatening homes just after 3 p.m., Howard said, and he saw authorities knocking on doors along the street to get people to safety.
Howard spoke with local property owners, who were told by authorities that the fire had rapidly grown.
"I talked to one of the property owners in that area, they were coming up from downstate to stop by their cottage," Howard said. "Unfortunately, it's within the area of the fire and the closure, and they told me that they heard from the Crawford County Emergency Manager, telling them that the fire is now in excess of 100 acres and still working to contain it."
The DNR said later it went from 100 acres to a 1,000 acre monster, with containment efforts still underway.
Another homeowner in the area said a house had gone up in flames in a subdivision near Staley Lake Road.
"There was speculation amongst her and other property owners that that itself may have started this possible fire and that's probably why we saw the black smoke when I first arrived in the area back during the early three o'clock hour," Howard said.
Howard said he was holed up in a travel plaza off Four Mile Road and I-75 where numerous people with their campers and other vehicles were also set up.
"They brought lawn chairs and coolers and they're all sitting here because they cannot access or they were forced to leave their properties," Howard added.
The fire was moving -- and rather quickly. It is traveling from the northeast to the southwest, fueled by the extremely dry conditions seen across the state.
"We were speaking to the superintendent at the golf course and he said they have not had any measurable rain at the golf course since May 5th, which is a long time." Howard added. "I do believe there is a No Burn with the DNR up here, so no burning outside of your homes."
In addition to threatening homes, Howard said the wildfire is heading to the southwest towards several wood processing plants that make various types of particle board.
"There are several plants in that area, wood processing plants, and the crews are trying they're best to keep the fire away from [there]," Howard added. "I was told a chemical plant that produces resins for the wood processing plants. They are doing their best to keep the fire away from those locations."
According to the DNR, the Red Cross has been activated and shelter for evacuees has been set up at the Grayling Middle School gymnasium, 500 Spruce Street in Grayling, and the Beaver Creek Township Hall, 8888 S. Grayling Road.
Howard said panic has not gripped residents in the area, but rather concern about where the fire will go.
"I can tell you that we have seen a lot of people on these roads that are at the perimeter of the fire standing outside their homes," he continued. "Of course, looking at the smoke trying to measure what direction it's traveling in."
The winds are currently concerning to DNR officials who told Howard they were worried about them "swirling" because it makes the fire's direction unpredictable.
Authorities are also concerned the fire will jump 4 Mile Road and continue burning on the other side.
Dry conditions have persisted in much of the state over the last few weeks, so much so that the DNR has issued burn restrictions for nearly every county in Mid and Northern Michigan and all of the U.P.
Crawford County, where the fire broke out, is currently under a restriction and the DNR states "debris burning is not permitted anywhere in the county."
"As a reminder, fire danger is still extreme throughout most of Michigan," the DNR warned. "Keep this in mind and do your part to keep fires contained and give fire crews the opportunity to focus efforts on this wildfire."
At the beginning of the week, a small campfire quickly burned out of control in Manton where it quickly grew into a forest fire that consumed 130 acres and caused a campground to be evacuated.
At this time, the exact cause of the fire remains unknown. Collaborative efforts to get the blaze under control remain ongoing into the night.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ LIVE for the latest updates.
