MARQUETTE COUNTY, MI— Hot, dry, windy conditions kindled small brush fires around the U.P. over the weekend.
Friday around 4:10 p.m., Negaunee Township Fire/EMS received a report of smoke west of County Road 510 and north of North Basin Drive. A Michigan Department of Natural Resources plane spotter identified a two- to three-acre brush fire near the Noquemanon Trail.
DNR crews responded to the fire, and a Michigan State Police helicopter provided air support by filling a drop tank from the Dead River Basin.
The scene was turned over to the DNR around 6:30 p.m.
Sunday around 1 a.m., the Marquette City Fire Department was dispatched to the Fit Strip area of Park Cemetery for the smell of smoke. Officials found a brush fire burning within the tree line and underbrush.
Crews began an initial attack to contain the fire, and Incident Command was established. Additional resources were requested in the form of a brush truck from Marquette Township Fire, a brush truck and tanker from Chocolay Township Fire, and more personnel from the Marquette City Fire Department.
The fire was contained to a 30-foot-square area. The cause remains under review.
Assisting in the incident were Marquette City Police and Marquette County Central Dispatch.
