WildfiresTop story
The Ridge Fire has grown to almost 500 acres, and burning is limited across the western U.P.
The Ridge Fire by the numbers
- Nearly 500
- acres burned by the Ridge Fire
- About 30
- acres added on its west side in recent days
- 2
- nearby homes evacuated during the Ridge Fire
- 85%
- of U.S. wildfires are human-caused, the National Park Service says
Sources: The North Wind, The Mining Journal, WNMU-FM
If you're watching the Ridge Fire, here's the latest from Thursday, Oct. 29. Winds pushed it about 30 acres on its west side to almost 500 acres, and the DNR says it's still well within firefighters' confinement strategy.
Don't expect a quick fix. Peter Glover, the DNR's Gwinn unit fire supervisor, said the steep, rocky terrain that makes the fire hard to fight also keeps it from spreading.
“What's going to stop this fire and put it out is season-ending rain and/or snow.”
Peter Glover, fire supervisor, DNR Gwinn unit
Wind also fed two smaller fires: the four-acre Game 2 Fire near Wetmore Pond in Marquette Township and the 11-acre Silver Leaf Fire in Sands Township. The Wetmore Pond fire's cause is unknown.
- First spotted: by airplane on Oct. 9
- Location: between County Road 510 and North Basin Drive
- Wetmore Pond fire: no injuries or property damage reported
- Marquette burn permits: logs and brush only, at least 1,400 feet from city or village limits
Craig Lake is the largest of four other U.P. fires
Sources: The Mining Journal, WNMU-FM
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Craig Lake Fire | 606 acres |
| Black River Fire | 350 acres |
| Silver Leaf Fire | 11 acres |
| Game 2 Fire | 4 acres |
Planning a backyard burn? We suggest checking the rules first. All counties in the western U.P. have suspended burning or put restrictions in place.
