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Subscribe to RSSOne of the blazes, in upper Michigan, was started by a lightning strike, authorities say. NBC's Savannah Guthrie reports.
NEWBERRY, Mich. -- Homes and cabins make up a third of the nearly 100 structures destroyed by a wildfire burning across more than 30 square miles of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, officials said Monday.
The lost property includes Pike Lake Resort near Pike Lake in Luce County.
"I was still hoping that they would stop it," owner Diane Ricketts said of the fire. "With my husband gone, I'm not going to rebuild. We're just going to go on and take it day by day and see what's going to happen."
The Duck Lake Fire began with a lightning strike last week and burned more than 21,000 acres, or 34 square miles, by Monday, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources via AP
The wildfire in Michigan's Upper Peninsula included this stretch of forest.
Parts of Michigan are extremely dry and thirsty for rain. Fireworks and outdoor burning are banned in 49 of the state's 83 counties, especially in northern Michigan.
The DNR said 95 structures have been destroyed, including 34 homes or cabins, one store and one motel. No injuries have been reported.
Fire managers explained the firefighting effort to about 200 people Sunday in Newberry, a community closest to the fire, 75 miles northwest of the Mackinac Bridge. The strategy includes aircraft dumping water.
"I didn't know what to expect," said Dennis Nezich, a DNR spokesman. "People were very polite, they listened."
DNR crews continued to battle the blaze from the ground and in the air.
NBC's Nadine Comerford contributed to this report from The Associated Press.
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Too bad it doesn't burn down the University of Michigan, but hell I wouldn't want to go anywhere near there either. It would be an improvement, but what wouldn't be an improvement on that piece of @!$%# university?
couldn't get in, eh?
Wow, you manage to be both stupid and disgusting. Congratulations to you.
The real shame is that the buildings destroyed (burnt) were not the governor mansion, the state senate building and the state tax office as those are the three biggest problems facing Michigan. This could have given the citizens some relief from the overbearing state government they have till they could rebuild.
@bluthunder --- Don't forget Detroit and GM Headquarters.
These comments are disgusting. Focus on what the article is really about, not on your petty dislikes.
You numbskulls from Ohio show off your obtuse ignorance and your total lack of class. You are no better than Democrats or Neanderthals whose IQ hovers around the same number as broccoli.
what is your problem?? D' must stand for D'ouche
Classy
D'Jack.... you be the morning green hack... Come from Manistique, Lots of these wildfires are hard to put out because of the peat deposits underground. It's been dry since the 80's.
What an ass you are.
My thoughts are with those who have lost property. No loss of life from these fires is truly a blessing. I've stood outside my home in Cedar River Michigan years back and watched smoke rising by Fox Park and prayed it would not get out of hand. Thankfully it did not. My heart was in my throat.
Folks , sorry to hear about your loses. We here in Texas went through way too much of fire loses last year.
More global warming. I tell you science will say it's true. Mr grover, the gop, & the rushbo will tell you co2 has nothing to do with climate change. It's part of the hate campaign & how they will tell you that corporations are people too.
But look at modern day science. Look at the news article about this 16 year old.
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/28/11920006-16-year-olds-equations-set-off-buzz-over-325-year-old-physics-puzzler?lite
Question is has could he have exercised the equation. You betcha. An imac or pc with an i7 chip would go thru the equation in a second. I tell you anybody can do computations nowadays. All done in his mother's kitchen. Anybody can do it. It's based on number crunching and you could be a contributing climate scientist too.
But what about the mr grover, gop, & the rushbo saying that corporations are people too. It's because lincoln said that we have freedom based upon a govt that is of the people, for the people, & by the people.
But mr grover, the gop, the rushbo, & romney says hey, wait. Corporations are people too. They will tell you our freedom is based up a govt that is of the people & corporations, for the people & corporations, & by the people & corporations. That they are correct & can believe and do anything they want to they will tell you. People & corporations have freedom.
But i dunno. You need to make up your own mind by reading the book 'Corporations Are Not People: Why They Have More Rights Than You Do and What You Can Do About It' [Paperback]by Jeffrey D. Clements. Ask the rushbo if corporations are people too.
This is NOT a political article, and it is inappropriate to try to make it one. Focus on the article!
Mr grover, the gop, & the rushbo will tell you the environment is not a political issue. But i tell you, based on my experience, that when it comes to the environment, especially wild fires & tornadoes and the extinction of plants & animals caused by global warming, getting anything fixed is 100% political. Sure mr grover, the gop, & the rusbo will tell you that it is inappropriate to fix global warming, it could affect corporate profits. I mean it could affect the profits of corporations who are people too as they would say it. But what would the creator say.
Time for your meds now Mr. Marshal.
What a terribly sad situation! Michigan is such a beautiful state. There's a saying that you aren't farther than three miles from a lake anywhere in the state--there are so many stunning lakes! The forests and lakes are also impressive.
I am so sorry for those who have (and will) lose property in this huge fire. It is my fervent desire that there will be no loss of life, and that the fire will be safely extinguished soon.
I grew up in MI about 1 hour north of Detroit. We had 3 lakes within a mile radius of my home. More lakes than swimming pools. It was nice.
We have eight lakes within one mile, Deb, (four with public access) and the one out the back door does not show up on most maps. It's like a vacation Up North every day. I can get to the Wayne State area of Detroit in about 50 minutes.
The forests in the U.P. are bone dry. Lightning was the trigger, but severe lack of snowfall is the cause.
The average snowfall in that area is 9 feet; it's been over twice as deep, too. I'm afraid that I can't find this year's total snowfall, but the spring-like temperatures in late February and early March are described locally as "the winter that never came".
The area is extremely dependent on winter tourism (skiing, snowmobiling), which failed to materialize this year, devastating the already weak local economy.
As to the cause of the extraordinary lack of snow in what should be one of the snowiest places in the United States, one may draw their own conclusions.
The good news is the forecast for the next few days calls for cooler temperatures, with a chance of showers. IF the rain does come, and IF we may avoid any more lightning strikes igniting more fires, firefighters may be able to turn the corner on this fire by this weekend. Otherwise the fire will continue to roll across the landscape.
(As for the idiotic comments above about the U of Michigan, GM, and Michigan's politicians on a thread on a forest fire - go spew your inanity somewhere else.)
I live in the Chicago area and we had a very mild winter as well. We had lots of rain though. If it had been snow, it would have been a complete mess. We also had the wettest summer last year. It was the first time that our lawns were as green in July & August as they were in the spring. The past 2 or 3 weeks though, all the forecasts for rain have been wrong.
I hope for everyone's sake that the forecasts for rain & cooler temps for the UP are correct. :)
The hotel referred to is the famous (in Michigan anyway) Rainbow Lodge. family owned and absolutely a wondrful place t goo. On property store, boat remtal, lodge, motel...all gone. The other area , Tequammon Falls has been closed and the fire is close by. Very sad for Michigan tourism. The Upeer Peninsula so counts on tourism for a boost to thier alread staggered economy. I love living in Michigan and feel bad for all the people affected.
I pray for the animals/wildlife, the trees and then the residents- in that order. The land belongs to the wildlife who will become confused and entrapped within the woods, die of smoke inhalation and then be burned. It is a terrible loss for the beautiful beings God has created. I do not feel too sorry for some of the residents as a lot of them are very into their own little groups and do not care about tourists other than to take what you have...I vacationed there a couple of times a few years ago, will never go back. A very depressing area with NO convenience. Should you decide to visit this area, take your pantry with you unless you want to drive over 60 miles to pick up some groceries... What God has created is beautiful, the surrounding towns have declined. Prayers to the above mentioned...
Cheryl - it's a wilderness. Do you not see the contradiction between your points?
You can't have a wilderness area with a grocery store every half mile.
Please, vacation where you will find the conveniences you crave, and leave the wilderness for those who enjoy it.
I have friends in this area, I hope their home is ok, I will be following this story closely.
We have been tent camping as a family in this area. Last time we were up there, there was a family from Germany camping there, also. Imagine folks coming all the way from Germany, bringing their kids to camp in the U.P., they were having a wonderful time.
Cheryl sounds like she'd be happier parking her RV in the WallyMart parking lot.
Cheryl, good thing is that almost everything in this fires path can travel to another 'safe' part of the UP. Not too much in the civilization category unless you live near a store and gas station. Beautiful area throughout. Vacation near Hurricane River area every 5 yrs or so tent not camper. Just remember, Mother nature has a way of recycling itself from this destruction. Just don't like to see fires made from someones carelessness.
"It is a terrible loss for the beautiful beings God has created." so why did god create the lightning that started the fire? since god started the fire should firefighters stop it? isn't it god's will? is god looking for an offering? a burnt offering? or is god just a dick?
"I do not feel too sorry for some of the residents" oh aren't you just a sweet person? god save the animals that god is busy burning to a crisp, but screw those people who are so mean that they don't live right next door to a grocery store.
My favorite place in the whole United States to vacation to!! Beautiful state, MICHIGAN!
My sympathies to those affected. I hope they have friends and/or family that they can stay with until everything gets sorted out.
Cheryl, you are such a sweet and understanding person and, oh yeah, not at all entitled.... While I too feel deeply about the wildlife and the vegetation that is being lost- I recognize that the people up there are really hurting and this fire is going to hurt them even more. You state that the residents don't care about tourists, that the area is depressing with no convenience, having to drive over 60 miles to get groceries and that you will never go back. I hope you don't ever go back up there. (and you clearly have never had your house burnt down) Stay away. The UP does not need someone like you.
Seriously, you can not be suprised that you have to DRIVE some distance to get groceries...It is not Detroit or a heavily populated area. If you want all sorts of convenience, stay in the lower penisula where there are malls and shopping centers all over. That is "convenient." IF you want beautiful scenery, wonderful experiences, amazing waterfalls, cool wildlife, serenity and really nice people, then go to the Upper Penisula- especially the Newberry area. Those people are real people-nice. Yes, the town of Newberry is struggling without all the tourists that the winter (and lots of snow) typically brings. So the town isn't as prosperous as it once was, but it is still a WONDERFUL town filled with very nice people and businesses that need tourists to come. So Cheryl, your little rant about the fire and the fact that you were inconvenienced to have to drive for groceries is spiteful and very hurtful to those that have lost their livelyhood or homes. You clearly only think of yourself and clearly did not know that the UP is, duh, filled with lots of trees and not many towns... probably a good thing that you decided to not go back up. You might have had to drive somewhere and inconvenience yourself again..... My family recognizes what a gem that area and the UP is and will willing go back again and again and I urge those that love wildlife, beautiful scenery and enjoy adventures to go to the UP and Newberry area. Cheryl, I hope to never see you there.
As for the Rainbow Lodge and all of the others that have lost property, homes or cabins, my family have you in our hearts and in our prayers. God bless you. AND a huge thank you to all of the many, many firefighters that are trying to save the forests, animals, homes, cabins and businesses.
Well said JLP! One of the most beautiful places in MI to vacation. I feel very sad for those effected by this fire and thankful to the firefighters trying to stop it from spreading further.
JLP1993: Thank you for setting Cheryl straight. As a born and raised Yooper (Newberry) I am thankful that you had the courage to say something to an unkind comment. I couldn't have said it better. I am older and I remember the days before snowmobiling/tourism was popular in the Upper Peninsula. The residents who have been here survived long before Cheryl and will survive long after. As far as getting supplies/food, we are used to the drive to get from point A to B; that's part of the territory.
I have to agree with you regarding the people in the area. I have traveled the world and the people in our area are some of the kindest, "give the shirt off your back" people I've ever met in my life. Many believe because we are from such a small area that we are uneducated and backward. Nothing could be further from the truth - we embrace higher education because we strive to do better. We don't have a sense of entitlement. We work hard for what so many take for granted. That's what we do to survive. Mind you, every town and city have those who do not live to their full potential; but those who don't live to their full potential have never been and never will be isolated to one town or city.
Thank you for your kind comments. It's nice to know there are people who put human life and have a kind word for those suffering above all else. Your moral compass is true North.
That is beautiful country up there. Hopefully they'll get the fires under control soon. You almost have to be superhuman to fight fires like that. I don't know how they do it.
It should be obvious, even to the dullest tool in the shed, that we can't prevent fires from being started.
What to do then? Reduce the fuel supply. Little fuel, no wildfires.
How to do it? Expunge burn bans and fireworks bans. Many small brush fires will prevent wildfires. Did you ever hear of a wildfire in an area that was burned off the previous year. Why not use some common sense for a change?
We in Texas never had problems with wild fires until we got the burn bans, not in the thirties, not in the fifties.
The weather in the USA is unique. One one side the weather is dry and there are wild fires and on the other side the weather is rainy and there are hurricanes. In such times we must pray. The USA has a prayer "IN GOD WE TRUST" GOD BLESS THE USA.
Kevin Valentine Moraes
Mira Road (Thane)
A/noon Kevin. No the US is not unique..we have the same here...Queensland belted by a cyclone, Victoria up to our eyeballs in floods and Western Australia they had bushfires, all at one time. It has happened in the past and it will happen in the future..It is mother nature....Feel for the people of Michigan...as we know the feeling of bushfires here in Victoria very well...Good luck to all over there and stay safe where ever you are....
I have a friend up there in the UP working as a Park Ranger, and I just want to commend all those who are working with the refugees and to expedite evacuations (as well as the firefighters, who do a job I cannot even imagine doing). During what was a beautiful camping season, I think that it's nothing short of a miracle that no one has been injured as far as we know. I just pray that the situation can be further controlled before any more damage is caused. While I know it's easy for me to say this from the safety of states away, possessions can always be replaced, we cannot be.
I've lived in Michigan my entire life (West Michigan - Grand Rapids). I've spent many long weekends in the UP and love it there! This is such sad news, however also a blessing that no one has been physically hurt by the fire.
too bad the fire wasn't clearing 21000 acres of DETROIT GHETTO instead of great pinelands