The Ridge Fire near Marquette — one of three fires in the so-called Rugged Terrain Complex — is now fully contained, thanks in part to snowy weather. It is the last of the fires to reach 100% containment.
Danger still remains, though. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking people to stay out of the fire zone because many trees have been weakened by the fire.
“These trees may look fine, but the fire burned deep and damaged their root systems. These trees could fall at any time,” said Keith Murphy, DNR resource protection manager for the Upper Peninsula.
The Ridge Fire, approximately 500 acres, is located 10 miles northwest of Marquette, north of the Dead River Basin and west of County Road 510. It was spotted by a DNR pilot Oct. 9. The cause remains under investigation.
Both of the other fires in the Rugged Terrain Complex were fully contained earlier this month:
The 600-acre Craig Lake Fire, located at the north end of Craig Lake State Park in Baraga County, was detected by a DNR pilot Oct. 8 and later confirmed to be caused by a lightning strike.
The 350-acre Black River Fire, located 4 miles south of Wakefield, was detected Oct. 11 and initially managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The DNR took over management of the fire Oct. 13. It also was caused by lightning.
As always, the DNR reminds everyone to check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit before planning to burn yard debris or start a campfire, and to have an accessible water source nearby. For more fire safety tips, visit Michigan.gov/PreventWildfires.
