BARAGA COUNTY, MI— Strong winds, record warmth, drought, and dry conditions led to a wildfire north of Craig Lake in Baraga County Thursday afternoon.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the fire likely began as two separate lightning strike fires, which then merged together. It was discovered around 2:45 p.m.
The fire grew to 16 acres by Thursday night and remained about the same size through Friday. Water-scooping planes from Minnesota lifted water out of Lake Michigamme to dump on the fire, and a Michigan State Police helicopter scooped water into a collapsible canvas device known as a “Bambi Bucket.”
The DNR asks people to stay away from the scene and refrain from using personal drones, which interfere with fire suppression aircraft.
