Burning Ban Continues

Fire danger across the region is very high tonight, and fire officials say it’s vital that everyone takes the warning seriously.

Conditions are still extremely dry as the U.P. continues in a drought.

Precipitation is down 25% to 50% from the normal range, and that makes for parched vegetation.

Four planes from the Michigan DNRE and the U.S. Forest Service were in the air again today.

Spotters on board are looking for evidence of wildfires.

The DNRE cautions that the smallest spark can start a forest fire.

There’ve already been several situations this spring where carelessly discarded cigarettes started grass fires in the area.

The very high fire danger has forced the DNRE to continue the burning ban.

There’s no open-debris burning allowed anywhere in the U.P.

For more information on the burning ban, you can click here.

That website gets updated every morning.

Fire officials say even a campfire or warming fire can quickly flare out of control in the dry conditions.

If you start a fire that gets out of control, the DNRE can hold you responsible for any damages as well as for any firefighting costs.

The only solution — steady and substantial rain.