Officials warn of spring wildfire risk
Spring is here and so is the wildfire risk that comes with it.
State environmental officials are cautioning homeowners to be mindful of any outside fires this time of year because the spring wind and dry grass create good wildfire conditions.
"If you can go fly a kite, you don't want to have a fire," said Paul Kollmeyer, a Department of Natural Resources fire prevention specialist.
He cautioned people to be careful if burning dry leaves from lawn raking. With windy conditions, airborne sparks can easily spread fire, he said.
Two weeks ago, the Shepherd Tri-Township firefighters responded to a grass fire that nearly got out of control on South Wise Road in Chippewa Township.
It was one of several minor incidents around mid-Michigan this spring that could have gotten out of control, officials say.
"If the fire gets out of your control, don't be a hero and try to put it out yourself," said Mary Dettloff, public information officer for the DNR.
Burn barrels must be covered to prevent sparks from flying. Despite the fact that snow was on the ground recently and that the ground is still wet, the grass has dried out and fires will spread, Kollmeyer said.
Keep fires small and put them out with water when done. Supervise all fires and extinguish all coals completely when done burning, he said.
Dettloff recommends that anyone that starts a fire should make sure that they have a garden hose and a shovel near by.
The Mount Pleasant Fire Department is rarely called to wildfire scenes, though they do occasionally assist other departments.
"We don't get involved in many wildfires being here in the city," said Fire Chief Gregory Walterhouse.
The DNR has been encouraging a program called Firewise, which gives tips on to how to keep homes safe in the event of a wildfire.
Kollmeyer suggested cutting tall grass, cutting off low tree branches, cleaning out gutters and making sure that the siding of a home is not flammable.
In order to see if burning conditions are safe, visit mi.gov/burn permits.
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