—
BAY CITY, Mich. (WJRT) – Michigan is facing a high fire risk after almost two weeks with no rain.
Camper Pete Pfeiffer is heading out on the water after spending the last few days fishing at Bay City State Park. He said that he won’t be making a campfire during his stay.
“The winds here in the Bay City area can come on pretty quickly and it’s dry out and I don’t want to result in starting a fire,” Pfeiffer said.
The same conditions that brought him out camping—high temps, low humidity and strong winds—are putting Michigan at high risk for fires.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Resource Protection Manager Jeff Vasher says mid-Michigan, up to the top of the mitten, is at especially high risk because of pine forests in the area.
“That just means it’s going to be a busy summer for fire,” Vasher said.
This time of year brings new growth in pine trees specifically.
“They call it ‘candling out,'” Vasher said. “As it (a pine tree) grows it sucks all the moisture from the tree as it puts new growth out.
Michigan is currently under a no-burn notice. But Vasher said if you are going to make a campfire, the rules are simple.
“Make sure it’s out,” Vasher said. “We’d always tell the kids, ‘make it a mud pie.’ So, drown it with water, stir it up, drown it with water some more.”
Vasher said conditions are expected to remain dry going into June and July.
