ThinkingAfield.org

May 11, 2026
Contact: Laurie Abel, 517-599-6703

Firefighters from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources worked Monday to contain a wildfire that began Sunday near the southeast end of the Tomahawk Creek Flooding in Presque Isle County.

Cool overnight temperatures, frost and favorable humidity levels helped slow the spread of the fire, officials said.

The wildfire burned about 190 acres of state-managed land, including jack pine stands, a blueberry bog and hardwood debris left behind by last year’s ice storm.

“The fire is mostly contained. We’re monitoring it and extinguishing hot spots now,” said Jennifer Hansen, fire supervisor for the DNR’s Atlanta Unit. “Crews will remain on scene today and tomorrow to continue monitoring the area.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

No evacuations were ordered, and no homes or structures were threatened.

DNR fire crews were assisted Sunday by DNR conservation officers, DNR aviation staff, U.S. Forest Service aviation personnel, the Michigan State Police, and fire departments from Onaway, Forest Waverly and Case Township, as well as Presque Isle County Emergency Management and the Salvation Army.

May 8, 2026
Contact: Kevin Jacobs, 989-370-4041

Two Fire Boss aircraft, each capable of scooping up to 800 gallons of water from a lake in just 15 seconds, have been added to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources firefighting fleet this season.

The planes, leased from late April through early June – historically the worst part of Michigan’s fire season – are housed at the Gaylord Regional Airport. This central location is ideal to respond to wildfire anywhere in the state and especially for the areas hit hard by the ice storm of 2025. The planes were used earlier this week to assist with a fire on federal land near Mio.

Fire danger is elevated across the state this weekend, so make sure to check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit or, in southern Michigan, contact your local municipality to make sure it is safe to burn.

“The branches and trees downed from the ice storm can impede us getting into the woods with equipment,” said Kevin Jacobs, DNR aviation manager. “The added debris on the ground will add fuel to the fire, which could cause wildfires to spread faster and burn with more intensity.”

He said the Fire Boss aircraft don’t replace crews on the ground but can offer an important head start once a fire is discovered.

“They can get to a fire scene fast,” Jacobs said. “Having two of these planes working in tandem can make a difference in our ability to contain fires and protect people, property and natural resources.”

The planes are Air Tractor AT-802 models, designed for agricultural use and modified to include floats for landing on water. They need approximately a mile of open water to perform their water-scooping sequence. Read more

Contact: Laurie Abel, 517-599-6703

Firefighters from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and local fire departments attacked a wildfire late Sunday in Presque Isle County near the southeast end of the Tomahawk Creek Flooding.

The fire covered approximately 180 acres around 8:30 p.m., said Laurie Abel, public information officer for the DNR’s Incident Management Team.

“The fire is burning in jack pine, hardwood and a blueberry bog,” she said. The cause of the fire hasn’t yet been identified.

A single vehicle that got stuck on a forest road was burned; its occupants were able to get away from the vehicle and are safe.

Traffic restrictions remain in place along Spring Lake, Anderson and Millersburg roads as emergency crews manage the area and monitor fire activity.

At this time, no evacuations have been made, and no homes or structures are considered at risk. Firefighters have achieved approximately 60% containment as suppression efforts continue throughout the night and into Monday.

Equipment in use Sunday included four Air Boss water-scooping planes, an Air Attack plane which coordinates air activity, and DNR fire detection aircraft.

The Legislature allocated one-time funding for the DNR to lease two AT 802 water scooping planes to help fight fires. Downed wood in the northern Lower Peninsula from the March 2025 ice storm has created an increased fire risk this spring. Weather has been windy and dry for the past several days, contributing to fire risk.