By Nicole Walton
Luce County, MI – Officials with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources are worried about houses in the path of a Luce County wildfire. The Sleeper Lakes Fire about ten miles west of Tahquamenon Falls State Park has burned more than 14,000 acres. Drought conditions and erratic winds continue to fan the flames, which are threatening residences along County Road 407. Precautionary evacuations have been ordered for parts of M 123. Tracy Casselman is director of the Seney Wildlife Refuge and an assistant information officer for the DNR. He says about 130 people attended a meeting with officials Monday to learn what they can do to save their homes. That includes mowing and watering their lawns, clearing away wood and other flammable objects from their houses, and cutting down tree limbs that hang near buildings.
Casselman says boggy terrain and sandy ridges are making it difficult for firefighters to use heavy equipment against the blaze. He says the top layer of soil supports the fire, but vehicles sink in the soft ground.
More than 180 personnel from around the Midwest are currently at the scene. The DNR has established a hotline for information about the fire. The number is 877-261-3473.