By William Beacom
UNDATED – The Department of Natural Resources and Environment warns residents and visitors that wildfire danger is very high across Northern Michigan. The Memorial Day Weekend weather forecast is predicted to be warm and dry. Low moisture readings remain critically low creating concerns for wild fires. The dry pines allow crown fires to develop, which happen when fire spreads rapidly through tree tops. Last week, fires burned about 9,500-acres in Crawford and Kalkaska County. So far this season 18-residences and 68-out buildings have been destroyed or damaged by forest fires.
DNRE officials say most fires can be traced back to carelessness. Officials urge everyone to keep fires small and to never leave them unattended. Campers can properly extinguish campfires by stirring in water until no steam is produced and dousing the underside of charred logs. For more information, go online to www.michigan.gov.preventwild-fires.