MARQUETTE, MI-- Fourteen Michigan DNR firefighters have been sent to Alaska and Manitoba, Canada to help fight wildfires.
Manitoba is a partner in the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact, which also includes Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario. Three four-person crews were dispatched to assist in ongoing fire suppression efforts there. In addition, two people will be working the Tanana Area fires—the largest complex of fires burning in Alaska.
The Upper Peninsula is sending six of the firefighters. A Marquette DNR firefighter is headed to Alaska, while three firefighters from Shingleton, one from Crystal Falls, and one from Marquette are being sent to Canada.
The DNR will continue to provide assistance to the fire efforts while conditions remain critical.
Bill O’Neill, chief of the DNR Forest Resources Division, says while some employees are being sent to assist wildfire efforts in other areas, the state is still well-equipped to handle wildfires should one occur in Michigan.
