CHEBOYGAN, MONTMORENCY COUNTIES, MI— The Department of Natural Resources says a downstate wildfire is now about 60 percent contained.
The Blue Lakes Fire in Montmorency and Cheboygan counties was ignited by a lightning strike last Wednesday. As of Sunday night, it had burned about 2,710 acres.
A number of local fire departments are helping DNR fire crews connect containment line gaps. The fire destroyed an outbuilding, damaged a vehicle, and prompted the evacuation of 13 people from a camp. One firefighter suffered a minor injury.
Fire risk remains high to very high in much of northern Michigan and the U.P. Open debris burning is not allowed anywhere in the Upper Peninsula at this time.