DNR: Wildfire 100% contained
UPDATE — 9:20 p.m. Saturday, August 1, 2015 (EST): Thursday’s wildfire in Humboldt Township has been 100% contained by DNR fire crews and other firefighters from Michigan and Wisconsin.
The official cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Additional firefighters came from Mellen and Waupaca, WI to help contain the blaze.
Officials wrapped up mop-up duty at 8 p.m. today. Mop-up duties will continue to take place over the next couple of days, depending on the weather.
UPDATE — 10:10 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2015 (EST): Thursday’s wildfire in Humboldt Township burned up approximately 100 acres of land according to DNR Public Information Officer John Pepin. The fire is also 95% contained at this point.
UPDATE — 12:25 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2015 (EST): The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says that the wildfire in Humboldt Township has burned about 70 acres. Crews will be back Friday morning to contain the rest of the fire.
HUMBOLDT TOWNSHIP — Crews are still battling a wildfire that began early Thursday afternoon in Humboldt Township.
Shortly after 1 p.m., the tower at Sawyer Air Force base noticed some smoke about 5 miles north of Republic just off of County Road 601. A state plane flew over, confirming the presence of a wildfire and Michigan DNR personnel were sent to the scene.
Officials believe that the fire began within the land of a logging project, Holli Forest Products of Ishpeming. Also, the weather conditions allowed the fire to spread from 10 acres initially to 60 acres by 7 p.m.
“And so it was burning in slash, which is the debris left from cutting wood. And so that burns hot, but also because there are stumps and all kinds of debris, it makes it harder for the firefighters to get in there and set a line around it,” said DNR Deputy Public Information Officer John Pepin.
Officials say the fire is about 60% contained as crews will work until midnight and resume tomorrow morning. The DNR was assisted by the Ishpeming, Humboldt, Republic and Champion Fire Departments.