By Staff
This month is prime time for folks to head north for some camping, rest and relaxation. Here in Southwest Michigan we finally got that drought buster rain we've been begging for and with things now greening up fire danger is probably the last thing on your mind.
However, go forewarned they didn't get any rain further north. From just above Grand Rapids and beyond they are still in high fire danger conditions. In fact, as I write there is an immense fire raging in the Upper Peninsula north of Newberry. It has scorched over 13,000 acres between Newberry and Tahquamenon Falls and is still growing by the hour, forcing evacuation of some homes and camps. There is another U.P. fire of over 500 acres near Rapid River and numerous other smaller wildfires are popping up daily throughout the Upper and Northern Lower.
If you're heading for the north country be extremely careful. All the grasses and leaves on the ground are tinder dry and will catch fire with the slightest heat source. Even the living pine trees have dried out to the point where they will very easily burn. Here are some fire safety tips. Most important, think fire. Consider the possible fire consequences before doing anything. Obviously, don't throw cigarette butts out the car window. Don't even flick the ashes out for you know how sometimes the whole burning end falls off. A smoldering cigarette in grass or leaves will almost surely start a fire. No fireworks, please.
Most areas are still allowing small campfires within maintained campground fire pits but all other fires and burning are banned until significant rain. I normally camp "au natural," setting up camp on remote public land rather than in groomed campgrounds. However, with these drought conditions I wouldn't even consider camping out in the bush no matter how good a fire pit I built. Play it safe and camp in a well developed campground. Even there extreme caution is required. If you must have a fire, clear every last leaf and piece of debris at least 10 feet away from the fire pit. Bring a rake for the purpose. Make sure you have at least five gallons of water readily accessible. Keep the fire very small, this is no time for a funeral pyre. Ideally the flames should barely extend above the walls of the fire pit and you certainly don't want the firewood protruding above the walls. If there's any amount of wind, even just occasional light gusts, forego a fire. You know how sometimes burning wood pops, spitting out embers. An untimely wind gust could blow those embers beyond your bare safety zone. The ember could ignite a leaf, the wind would send the burning leaf rolling across the ground leaving a burning trail behind and you've just done it. I've seen that rolling leaf thing dozens of times while doing prescribed burns. Never leave the fire unattended for even a minute. Smokers use an ashtray around camp.
Engines are another common cause of fire. Chain saws, lawn mowers, dirt bikes and four wheelers can emit sparks from the exhaust. Don't cut firewood near dead grass, leaves or pine needles. Drag the wood to a bare area and buck it up there, with water at hand. Be sure the exhausts of your off road toys are in top condition and equipped with spark arrestors and stay on approved, bare dirt trails.
If you should start an accidental fire don't dink around. The fire will spread way faster than you think possible if there is any wind. A couple of leaves or grass stems can often be extinguished with your foot. Don't stomp on it, that could spray the flames. Gently squish it out. Never swat at the fire with a broom, shovel or blanket, which will also blow the flames all over. Douse the flames with water or, better yet, gently brush the flames out with a water saturated broom or blanket. That conserves the water for continued attack if necessary. Always work from the safer, upwind side. If the fire gets to more than just a few square feet or if the wind is fanning the flames call 911 immediately. Carpe diem.