DNR: 85% of 3,000-acre wildfire trail caused by campfire in Northern Michigan is contained

Michigan officials announced on Sunday that 85% of a wildfire trail in Northern Michigan is now contained. Several fire crews were battling a 3,000-acre wildfire trail across Crawford County and Iosco County on Saturday as high temperatures and dry conditions created a high fire risk across the state. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported that the source of the fire was a campfire on private property. The fire started around 1 p.m. on Saturday and was burning in a southwest direction from its origin. The fire affected a variety of tree species, including jack pine, mixed pines, and oak. The fire was located approximately 4 miles southeast of Grayling in Grayling Township, near Staley Lake Road. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to assist in the fire response on Saturday.
WDIV-TV NBC 4 Detroit

Mausoleum damaged by fire at Grand Rapids cemetery

Authorities are investigating a mysterious fire that damaged a Grand Rapids cemetery's mausoleum facility on Friday. A fire broke out inside of the mausoleum at Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery around 4 p.m., according to Everstory Partners, the owners of the cemetery. Authorities are working with senior leadership at the cemetery to determine the cause of the fire, which at this time is unknown. The extent of the damage is also not known and the cemetery says they will notify the families who were affected by the fire as soon as they are able to determine which crypts were damaged. Authorities have closed the location and isn't allowing anyone in as of 9 p.m. on Friday.
WZZM-TV ABC 13 Grand Rapids

First Responders get special EV training in Oakland County

On Friday, first responders from across Metro Detroit got some special training that will pay dividends in the future. Responding to electric vehicle emergencies poses different challenges than their gas-powered relatives. In nearly 30 years, you see impressive things when you get to a domestic three-proving ground. Some things could make you cry, like taking a perfect $60,000 Cadillac and cutting it into pieces. But they’re doing it for a very good reason. The event was General Motors proving grounds in Milford, and firefighters from more than a dozen fire departments across Michigan and Northern Ohio came to get in-person, hands-on training on how to deal with an electric vehicle fire. Brighton Fire Department Captain Andrew Piskorowski told Local 4 he’d fought electric vehicle fires and knows it’s an entirely different operation.
WDIV-TV NBC 4 Detroit

Immense fire consumes house, commercial buildings, vehicles on Saginaw’s East Side

About an hour before the sun set on the month of May, fires began sparking in an East Side Saginaw neighborhood. As neighbors began taking notice and alerting each other to their shared predicament, the flames grew immense. Before all was extinguished, the conflagration had consumed one home, marred another, and ravaged multiple vehicles and commercial buildings. Shortly after 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, firefighters received notice of a detached garage on fire behind 2805 Collingwood Ave., said Saginaw Fire Marshall Derron Suchodolski. When they arrived, there was heavy fire in an adjacent field, which further escalated and spread into two commercial buildings at 2409 Hess Ave. The flames also spread to the houses at 2800 and 2804 Maplewood Ave., up a large pine tree, and several vehicles along its path, including a camper and a motorhome.
Kalamazoo Gazette/Mlive

Lansing fire chief explains how firefighters prepare for the heat

Whether you call it a heat wave or a drought, this week, mid-Michigan has been slapped with some pretty high temperatures. Everyone has been feeling it, including firefighters. “The 90-degree weather elevated here in Michigan is not quite as bad as when I was in Arizona, it was a 110 of dry heat,” said Lansing Fire Department Chief Brian Sturdivant. Sturdivant said, while the heat isn’t pleasant, he knew it was coming. He also knows how it doesn’t make things easier when it comes to putting out flames. “It could take its toll, and what we find is it would take a lot more man power,” he said. So far this week, we’re told the fire department has responded to five different incidents, and Sturdivant said when it’s this hot, he encourages all firefighters to take advantage of the "rehab center."
WSYM-TV FOX 47 Lansing