Duck Lake Fire Update
As of June 6, the Department of Natural Resources reports the following information as up-to-date on the Duck Lake Fire in Luce County:
Estimated Size and Containment: 21,112 acres, 74 percent containment. (Please note: The currently estimated fire size and containment have changed slightly, due to more precise GPS measurements.)
The Duck Lake Fire is the third-largest wildfire in Michigan history, behind the 25,000-acre Mack Lake Fire (1980) and the 72,000-acre Seney Fire (1976).
Cause and Date Started: Lightning, May 24, 2012
Structures Lost: 136
• 49 cabins/homes (including 1 motel and 1 store)
• 23 garages
• 38 sheds/outbuildings
• 26 campers
Resources on Fire: 156 personnel (including 41 overhead), plus
• 16 engines
• 5 dozers
• 4 hand crews
• 1 fixed-wing aircraft (Cessna 182)
Cooperating Agencies: Michigan State Police, Luce County Sheriff’s Department, Red Cross, Luce County Emergency Management, Wisconsin DNR, American Red Cross and Salvation Army.
Evacuations: The evacuation order was lifted at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 2, but only for landowners with residences in the Pike Lake, Bodi Lake, Culhane Lake and Little Lake Harbor areas.
Road Closures: County Road 414 east from the intersection with County Road 410 and County Road 500 from M-123 north to Little Lake Harbor remain closed to the general public. The Two Hearted ORV trail is closed east of County Road 414. Falling snags and extensive trail erosion have caused increased safety concerns on the trail and surrounding areas.
Plans for Today:
• Finish fireline construction toward division breaks
• Work with other agencies to facilitate damage assessment to resources and recreation areas.
• Grid for hot spots and mop-up 200 feet inside the fireline
Other Fire Information:
Dozer line rehabilitation was completed on the Lake Superior shoreline yesterday. In addition, the Duck Lake Fire Incident Management Team is now responsible for initial attack within the Newberry area.