Police hold man with long drug and violence history on probation violation, plus his girlfriend on DV charge in connection with that domestic dispute that turned into a alleged meth lab components bust

URGENT URGENT U.P. Breaking News Bulletin – 4-20-18 – 8:30 p.m. ET –

Domestic violence case involving female suspect turns into a meth probe at a Sands Township mobile home park – with two arrested including boyfriend of DV suspect who has a long police record involving assaults an drug sales

Charles ChristopherRobin Reed – MDOC Mugshot

Samantha Mae Kukla

By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Sands Township, MI) – A Sands Township man and his girlfriend are being held in jail tonight in connection with that domestic violence case turned meth lab, and the man with a length record of drug sales plus assaulting police and prison employees.

The two are being held in an investigation into a meth lab that was allegedly discovered in their trailer at 553 Mobile Estates in Sands Township.

Charles ChristopherRobin Reed mugshot

Samantha Mae Kukla

Arrested were Chuck Reed and Samantha Kukla (scroll down to see more about suspects). The pair were arrested today, Friday, April 20, 2018.

It started when a 911 call said there was a domestic assault at the mobile home, and when police arrived the man tried to convince officers there was nothing wrong and stated he was alone. But following protocol, Marquette County Sheriff’s Deputies searched the trailer – thus found the female domestic violence suspect and an alleged component to manufacture crystal methamphetamine.

Domestic violence involving men and women have risen to an epidemic rate across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with many being beaten up and assaulted every single night. There was another domestic dispute this afternoon in Gwinn, MI involving a knife. Plus the former Finlandia University Football Coach Bob Moss was arrested for aggravated domestic violence today. These cases were among at least 7 monitored in past 12 hours by U.P. Breaking News.

The Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement team (UPSET) was called to conduct and investigation and remove hazardous substances.

34-year-old Charles Christopherrobin Reed aka “Chuck Reed” is being held without bond in the Marquette County Jail.
He is charged with a Marquette County District Court Probation Violation.

Reed has been convicted of assaulting police and prison employees plus was sentenced in at least two drug sales cases dating back to 2005, however most of his arrests have been in the past few years (scroll down to see his record).

Reed is a Marquette native, according to his Facebook profile.

Samantha Mae Kukla

32-year-old Samantha Mae Kukla is being held without bond in the Marquette County Jail.
Kukla is charged with domestic assault.
Both are being held in connection with the investigation of today’s meth bust in Sands Township, MI.

“I see myself as an intelligent, sensitive human, with the soul of a clown which forces me to blow it at the most important moments,” Kukla said on April 18, 2018 on her Facebook page.

Kulka is a National Mine native who attended Westwood High School, according to her FB profile.
Assisting at the meth bust were the Sands Township Volunteer Fire Department, Sands Township EMS, and the Marquette County Rescue Squad Unit 131.

—

Charles ChristopherRobin Reed – MDOC Mugshot

Michigan Department of Corrections info on 34-year-old Charles ChristopherRobin Reed aka “Chuck Reed” – Charles Christopher Reed, Charles Robin Reed

https://mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/otis2profile.aspx?mdocNumber=521812

Offense: Police Officer – Assaulting/Resisting/Obstructing
Minimum Sentence: 1 year 4 months
Maximum Sentence: 2 years
Date of Offense: 5/28/2015
Marquette County
Date of Sentence: 7/28/2016
Conviction Type: Plea
Discharge Date: 9/14/2017
Discharge Reason: Offender Discharge

Sentence 2
Offense: Assault Of Prison Employee
Minimum Sentence: 2 years
Maximum Sentence: 5 years
Date of Offense: 2/03/2011
Marquette County
Date of Sentence: 5/20/2011
Conviction Type: Plea
Discharge Date: 4/30/2014
Discharge Reason: Offender Discharge

Sentence 3
Offense: Controlled Substance-Delivery/Manufacture, Nar/Cocaine <50 Grams
Minimum Sentence: 1 year 6 months
Maximum Sentence: 20 years
Date of Offense: 9/13/2005
Marquette County
Date of Sentence: 11/10/2005
Conviction Type: Plea
Discharge Date: 2/24/2010
Discharge Reason: Offender Discharge

Offense: Police Officer – Assaulting/Resisting/Obstructing
Maximum Sentence: 1 year 6 months

Date of Offense: 5/28/2015
Marquette County
Date of Sentence: 7/17/2015
Conviction Type: Plea
Discharge Date: 7/28/2016
Discharge Reason: Probation Violator Technical Violation

Offense: Controlled Subs-Del/Man, Schedule 1,2,3 except Marihuana/Cocaine
Maximum Sentence: 2 years
Date of Offense: 1/14/2010
Marquette County
Date of Sentence: 1/14/2011
Conviction Type: Plea
Discharge Date: 5/26/2011
Discharge Reason: Discharged Without Improvement

Forsyth Township House Fire: Firefighters warned to “be careful possible meth components”

URGENT URGENT – U.P. Breaking News Bulletin and Traffic Advisory – 3-7-18 – 6:40 p.m. ET

House fire reported in Forsyth Township, smoke showing and firefighters warned to beware of meth components

By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Gwinn, MI) – Numerous fire departments and emergency officials are battling a house fire in Gwinn – and have been warned to watch out for possible meth components.
The fire was reported about 6:15 p.m. ET tonight, Wed., March 7, 2018.
Firefighters, police and the rescue squad are at a home on E. Riling Street in Gwinn.
We are withholding the exact address until more is known about any possible methamphetamine connection.
Only smoke was showing when police first arrived, and they were told nobody is inside the residence.
The Forsyth Township Volunteer Fire Department requested mutual aid from the Richmond Township Volunteer Fire Department, and possibly the Sands Township Volunteer Fire Department.
Plus Marquette County Rescue Squad 131 has been paged.

Friends Remember Dickinson County Youth Killed in Fatal Crash: M-553 reopened; was closed because of weather-related fatal wreck in Marquette County, MI

U.P. Breaking News Bulletin and Traffic Advisory – 2-20-18 –

A Dickinson County Youth killed in today’s terrible crash on M-553 is being remembered lovingly online by those who will miss him – and was friends with the driver of the car

Seth Krzywicki‎ to Ben Johnson
love you Ben. you will be missed

Brett Ochs to Ben Johnson:
RIP Ben Johnson gonna miss you guy

Johnson lists his hometown as Pembine, WI.

Benjamin Johnson, 18, of Norway, MI was killed in the accident

18-year-old Marcus Trujillo of Fennville, MI, the driver of the car that killed his friend Ben Johnson, 18, of Norway, MI

Benjamin Johnson was often in the Marquette area as he played with the Marquette Electricians Hockey Team – and attended dances at and other events Marquette Senior High School – where he reportedly attended school. A group of Marquette students are reportedly gathering tonight to remember their friend “Ben.”

Ben Johnson at Lakeview Arena in Marquette, MI Sept. 2014

Ben Johnson (middle player) at Lakeview Arena in Marquette, MI Sept. 2014

Johnson had a great love for hockey – and was player with the Marquette Electricians: Daryl Thomas Jarvinen on September 10, 2014 with Ben Johnson, Ryan Higbie and Brendan Higbie at Michigan Technological University.

A Dickinson County youth was killed and others injured in today’s terrible crash on M-553.
18-year-old Benjamin Johnson of Norway, MI was killed instantly in the accident.
Johnson was a front seat passenger in a car drive by 18-year-old Marcus Trujillo of Fennville, MI.
Trujillo was driving south, lost control and slid into the northbound lane.
The car collided violently with a northbound mini-van. The van driver, 41-year-old Peter Francis Anderson of Gwinn, received serious hip and chest injuries and was taken to U.P. Health System-Marquette.
Trujillo, who was wearing a seatbelt, received only minor injuries and was walking at the scene. He too was taken to the hospital to be checked.
A Michigan State Police Accident Investigator is continuing the investigation.

Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson, and date, at Marquette Senior High School 2014 Christmas Dance

——-

10:40 a.m. ET
M-553 is reopened – more crash details (below)

——-
9:35 a.m. ET –

One killed, another seriously hurt in crash that had closed M-553 in Marquette County, MI

By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Marquette County, MI) – One person is dead and at least one more seriously injured in a violent crash on M-553 in Marquette County, MI – and the road was closed for nearly three hours.

While it is a state highway, the road is commonly known by its old name – County Road 553

The crash was reported on CR-553 between Taylor Road and Olsen Road – near Choice Propane. The highway was re-opened at 10:40 a.m. almost three hours after the crash.

The victim was a passenger in one of the vehicles. The crash was dispatched as a three-vehicle accident.
The wreck was reported about 7:50 a.m. ET this morning, Tues., Feb. 20, 2018 on M-553.

The T-bone type crash has sent at least two people to the hospital.

A passenger in one car was killed, while the driver of the other vehicle received serious juries.
An 18-year-old driver of four-door sedan was able to free himself and is being taken to U.P. Health System in Marquette to be treated for neck pain. He was wearing a seat belt.
His passenger was killed when their vehicle was hit broadside on the passenger’s door at a high rate of speed.

It unclear if both vehicles were on M-553 and one slid broadside – or if one pulled out in front of the other. The road was snow-covered and slippery at the time of the crash.
One seriously injured man was treated by paramedics destine for the trauma center in Marquette. He was suffering from chest pain and hip pain/deformity.
The accident is just north of Kelly Johnson (airport) Road – traffic was being re-routed on one end at Olsen Road.
Police were rerouting traffic to side roads near the fatal crash.
Roads remain deadly through the entire Upper Peninsula in a storm that has closed many schools.

Among those assisting on the scene were the Sands Township Volunteer Fire Department, Sands Township EMS, Marquette County 131, Forsyth Township Volunteer Fire Department, Forsyth Township EMS, U.P. Health System – Marquette Unit 141 and paramedics, Michigan State Police and the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department.

Introducing United States Border Patrol Agent Josh Smith – who helped an elderly man change his tire in Chippewa County – and canceled the wrecker that would have cost the “elderly gentleman” a lot of money

U.P. Breaking News Good News Update – 12-17-17 9:45 a.m. ET

Indeed Good: “Sierra 142” is United States Border Patrol Agent Josh Smith

Listen to the Good News – Good Deed – incident that this public servant was doing – when he thought the public would never know

The nice things law enforcement and others do daily that are never told:

Honoring all cops and others on the front lines of our safety while shining this light on U.S. Border Patrol Agent Josh Smith

By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

United States Border Patrol Agent Josh Smith is getting our credit tho we know so many others on the front lines to nice things everyday that are never reporter – and also fly in the face of danger – like all law enforcement, first responders, firefighters, paramedics, Emergency Room doctors/nurses/staff – all hospital employees and so many more.

Listen to the good deeds of a U.S. Border Patrol Agent as it happened in the Soo Michigan area.
This was taped on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017.

“Sierra 142” is United States Border Patrol Agent Josh Smith at Michigan Highway 129 (M-129) and East 3 Mile Road in Chippewa County about 5:08 p.m. ET on Nov. 28, 2017.

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URGENT GOOD NEWS UPDATE -11-29-17 1:50 p.m. U.P. Breaking News Bulletin: U.S. Border Patrol Agent is our hero on behalf of all cops across the U.P.

U.P. Breaking News has been told the honorable law enforcement officer who helped the elderly man with his tire is with the U.S. Border Patrol.
This is what we have been told:
Chippewa county law enforcement that helped elderly with tire was U.S. Border Patrol Agent Josh Smith.

Wow – Josh is just one example of the wonderful things police do everyday that know one knows about.
We honor all law enforcement in the U.P,
Cause when your in trouble – who do you call – a cop.
Of course the first responders, firefighters, paramedics – everyone on the front lines of our safety – are a blessing that we all have. Too often we do not count our blessings.

11-28-17 5:45 p.m. ET Didn’t want to get so busy I forget to mention this that we heard about an hour ago in Chippewa County: A wrecker was called for an elderly gentleman whose tire was flat – a cop in Chippewa County (wish I knew his name and agency) radioed to cancel the wrecker – that he was going to fix the elderly man’s tire and save him cost of wrecker. Cops do many things each day to help people that you never hear about. So congrats to Chippewa County law enforcement – from city, county and state police agencies.

 

As U.P. Winter House/Structure fires continue out of control – family of latest fire victim says no autopsy was ordered on the Doug Lintz – case closed – and that’s not good: And this as even more U.P. house/structure fires go unexplained tonight

NO AUTOPSY ORDERED IN FATAL FIRE!

OFFICIALS CAN SPIN THESE DEATHS – BUT CAN NOT DENY THEM

Why are so many U.P. deaths of all kinds not being thoroughly probed by MSP, fire officials and the fire marshal?

Family man Doug Lintz made Christmas dinner for loved ones just hours before his death

By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director / 1-906-273-2433

(Iron River, MI) – The family of the latest Upper Peninsula elderly resident to die in a daylight fire is questioning why no autopsy was performed – and the victim is being remembered tonight as a caring family man who spent his final hours with those he loved – and was known for being an expert outdoorsman and taxidermist.

He even cooked Christmas dinner for loved one’s only hours before his death. This despite suffering from cancer.

60-year-old Douglas “Doug” Michael Lintz died on Monday afternoon in a fire that quickly swept through his home at 1119 N. River Avenue in Iron River, MI.

U.P. fire officials have not been owning up to all the blazes in a recent spate of strange fires – more than a dozen in three weeks – including one today in Skandia and another fire today in Iron River. We have no details about either blaze.

Lintz’s longtime female friend Kristine “Kris” McNamara was not at his home when the fire broke out – but reportedly was there earlier in the day. She has her own residence.

Lintz was a self-employed taxidermist and talented at reloading of bullets and shotgun shells.

Lintz made Christmas dinner for family friend Alaina Seymour and her kids.

That family friend and neighbor, who has known the victim since she was 12 years old, could only watch in grief and horror as Mr. Lintz’s home burned in a fire of unknown origin.

“He started hunting and fishing at about 12 or 13,” his brother said tonight. “At 13 years old, he was professionally employed by Hyde and Kidd of Utica, MI” – a business known as a hunting and fishing taxidermy shop. The store also included everything that Lintz loved – guns, ammo, bows, plus fishing gear and and related stuff.

Apparently the Michigan State Police Fire Marshall and local fire officials did not want an autopsy performed.

“The undertaker picked him up at the house and was going to the funeral home,”his brother said. “I was dumbfounded! No autopsy!”

The fire chief told family “they probably will never know the cause due to water damage and freezing,” Lintz said about his brother’s tragedy.

Lintz’s father’s side of the family has Upper Peninsula roots.

“Doug’s wish was to be cremated without funeral or fuss,” according to his brother Lyn Lintz. “He will be going to Sidnaw after cremation.”

It is one of over a dozen U.P. house fires in recent weeks documented by U.P. Breaking News – but fire officials in several jurisdictions are refusing comment. The death of Mr. Lintz was preceded by two elderly residents who died recently in a daylight fire at their home in Fulton,. MI in the Copper Country in Keweenaw County.

Where is the Upper Peninsula Volunteer Firefighters Association – and the Where is the U.P. Fire Chief’s Association – in wake of a dozen serious fires including the daytime deaths of three elderly residents in past few weeks? Honoring Mr. Douglas Michael Lintz – the latest elderly Yooper to die in his home

Why are U.P. homes burning – with three elderly dead during daylight?

Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director

1-906-273-2433

(Upper Peninsula of Michigan) – U.P. Breaking News believes it is time for the U.P. Volunteer Firefighter’s Association to step up to the plate.

Where is the U.P. Fire Chief’s Association?

http://www.upchiefs.com/

Stop hiding facts about recent fires.

Blaming the evil press is cop out – especially when most of the U.P. news media is basically docile

Sadly this comes in the wake of the most recent death – 60-year-old Douglas Michael Lintz (born 1956) – who died in his home on Monday afternoon at 1119 N. River Avenue in Iron River, MI.

Why has nothing been said about all the fires – and all the elderly deaths?

Fire officials only released the victim’s name today – and one newspaper speculated there might be more than one victim – a female.

We still do not know officially what happened to the female occupant of the home.

Douglas Michael Lintz, 60, was a native of Utica, Michigan – and graduated from Utica High School in 1974, according to his Facebook page.

Douglas Lintz on Facebook:

Works at Free Agent August 1978 to present

Went to Utica High School Class of 1974

On his Facebook account, Mr. Lintz listed these relatives – more than many people do – indicating his love for family.

Doug, Jr. – Son

Lyn Lintz – Brother

Susan Wyman – Sister

Christine McGuire Niece

Meghan Lintz Niece

Brandon Lintz Nephew

We tried – and are trying – to get photos of all involved – but none existed of the couple in Fulton in Copper Country.

What happened to the other occupant of the home. Who else was home at the time?

Has she been given a place to stay. What is happening? Her name is reportedly Kristine McNamara – and we have reached out to six family members but none have said anything about her status. Would be glad to run info on a fundraiser.

Sometimes the media fears the public doesn’t understand these are real humans unless you see a photo – not a quick blip of 15 seconds on TV news.

There have been so many recent major structure and other fires in Schoolcraft County – no info released – that we have lost count.

Too many people have died and too many homes have burned in past month for the U.P. Firefighters to do their usual run and hide. U.P. Breaking News has immense respect for firefighters and law enforcement – but a lot of blood is now at both of their doorsteps.

Went to the U.P. Firefighter’s Association webpage – and it had not been updated in a long time.
http://u.p.firefighter.tripod.com/

Maybe the shootings and the fires were not the fault of those officials – but it still lands smack in their laps especially when it gets unacceptably high.

We suspect poverty is behind a lot of these goings on – and how state budget cuts have trashed the system from top to bottom like blood letting.

In some TV newsrooms it is a joke – go do the annual smoke detector and batteries story. That can not be the only answer to this horrendous turn of events.

Are the victim’s poverty stricken – have issues not addressed by healthcare – what. What safety precautions were in place or not? If the U.P. Firefighters Association refuses to answer this – then shame on these officials – for all future blood is directly on your hands. You need to try and act like you care more than has been shown. The media is not the enemy – that is old-fashioned thinking.

No more elderly should burn to death (or smoke inhalation) in their homes – especially in broad daylight – without some kind of message from firefighters. There could be many reasons that fire departments do not interact with media (sometimes even the DNR officials act like children with media – only want us to get pictures days later) – but it is high time the U.P. Firefighters Association started to become more relevant.

I have also heard equipment is a big issue – after much was spent on across the trail mammoth big vehicles. How many firefighters are there actively volunteering or working in the U.P.

What are the names of the fire chiefs of each and every department?

Why is information not being released?

Who is to blame for this drastic oversight of public protection (some modern departments would consider it a dereliction of duty)?

What are their home and cell numbers – and lets work out something where info can be reported to a central source and proactively given to the media!

Listen I get it – many Yoopers like to be treated like mushrooms or act like the media is so terrible.

But now that three elderly are dead – we are calling your hand over false provincialism with gatekeepers thinking they are Gods.

Check your smoke detector batteries is not going to get it this time. Why were these elderly trapped – specifically. Why did the fires start – really – not just some woodstove thing.

I can only hope that the U.P. firefighters care enough they can address these fires without some kind of white wash.

There have been too many fires in past month or so – disgusting that the public is not being warned – and if it is different reasons – then the firefighters association should take five minutes and tell us..

About 80 percent of the U.P. serious house fires never get reported by the media.

Whether its intentional due to insurance costs/fire ratings – or for many other reasons like media not listening to scanner, and the fire chiefs (for whatever reasons) do not tell the media and do not return calls. Then some chief’s will call media – but want to play coy – and not say the name of the occupant/owner – even if no injuries.

The U.P. media is very docile compared to the rest of the country – so you can not claim you are trying to protect victims from the menacing media.

(every other fire department in the U.S. releases this basic info – who, what, when, where, why – how). I think with all the death and destruction this year – the U.P. Firefighter’s Association needs to step up.

And let’s not just remind folks about smoke detectors – that are crucial – but have never had a landlord provide me with an easy one to change batteries.

More Sunday U.P. wildfires including Chippewa County: Saturday’s Mission Hills Wildfire 100 percent contained by 8:30 p.m.: Federal, State and Local Firefighters Battled Stubborn Bay Mills/Mission Hills Wildfire Tonight – One of several Upper Peninsula wildfires this weekend in dry brush and trees

URGENT: Numerous U.P. Wildfires Reported Sunday Across Upper Peninsula – be careful everywhere!!!

11-13-16 3:30 p.m. ET

By Greg Peterson

Mop up reported now at this hardwoods fire (5:11 p.m. Sunday 11-13-16):

The latest eastern U.P. wildfire is reported near the Stalwart Fairgrounds.

Many wildfires across Upper Peninsula – including one reported in the hardwoods in the eastern U.P.

Manpower and water packs requested – trucks can not get there.

Raburn Fire Department has called for mutual aid from the Raburn Township Fire Department

The fire is located east of the fairgrounds.

Fire is reported about a mile and a half east of the Stalwart Fairgrounds

 M-129/Turn East onto M-48/Eight Miles to Stalwart Fairgrounds

Fire is half a mile north of McCoy Road off Sand Ridge Road. Raburn fire has set up a incident command.

—

11-13-16 11:15 a.m. Sunday morning Update:
A GPS calculation puts the approximate size of the Bay Mills/Mission Hills wildfire at about 14 acres – and in very rugged terrain. Fire officials walked the entire edge of the fire today – and it did not spread overnight – but there are smoldering hot spots creating some smoke.
Many have it dubbed the “Mission Hills Fire” because it was on USFS lands on edge of tribal lands/reservation.

The cause remains under investigation and we have heard conflicting info.

However, with lightening – it almost has to have some human factor involved. Have not heard any reports of lightening.

If you have photos please share on our facebook page or email them

U.P. Breaking News – and I think we speak on behalf of the community – say “Thank you” again to all the fire departments and firefighters who jumped on this blaze quickly – and risked their lives – in terrible weather and terrain – and prevented it from spreading and – stopped the wildfire from destroying homes and lives. Often we say firefighters risk their lives – and it is true every fire can quickly turn deadly – but this was an especially dangerous fire that was attacked and put out with professionalism and a deep desire to protect the community.

btw – to firefighters it did not matter your political affiliation or anything else – just that people needed help – we should remember that.

USFS Handles Final Mop-Up of Blustery Bay Mills/Mission Hills Wildfire

Wildfire mop up amidst biting, blustery and bone-chilling winds found only in the U.P. along Lake Superior: The Gales of November struck not far away on Lake Superior some four decades ago on a night just like tonight

9:50 P.M. 11-12-16 Saturday Night Fire Update

Putting out the Bay Mills/Mission Hills wildfire completely is trickier than the normal mop up. Hard-working firefighters have been putting out hot-spots and flair-ups as freezing winds whip up embers and tree fires.

The final parts of the mop up was turned over to the U.S. Forest Service at 10:05 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016. Apparently, the wildfire included USFS land and/or blaze crept onto forest service lands.

“We’re turning it over to the U.S. Forest Service,” stated the Bay Mills fire chief at incident command.

And its that work on their normal night off – that brings these firefighters close together.

In fact – after about an hour and a half of the challenging – and seemingly never-ending – mop up – the camaraderie between the township fire departments in the U.P. was again proven.
Proven and understated in a radio conversation between the Bay Mills Township Fire Chief and the Superior Township Fire Chief – just as more and more firefighters have been cleared to leave the scene:

“I want to thank you guys,” the Bay Mills Chief said.

“Anytime,” the Superior Township chief responded.

They mean it.

Editor’s note from Greg Peterson/Owner, U.P. Breaking News: Thank you!

Tonight’s wildfire slam-down in the terrible terrain and only a stone’s throw from Lake Superior by an army of local, state and federal firefighters – demonstrated how we can count on firefighters, law enforcement, first responders, paramedics/EMTs (plus wreckers, road commissions, DPWs) and all the others. It is the kind of area that can easily injure firefighters.

We sincerely thank all the firefighters for their bravery, determination, skill, community-bigheartedness and even their daring nerve moving forward into those blazing windswept hills with embers rocketing into their faces. Folks, these fire fighters showed gusto and blustery courage equal to the super blustery winds they endured.

—

URGENT 8:27 P.M. 11-12-16 Saturday Night

Fire Update: Bay Mills/Mission Hills Wildfire is 100 percent contained

The Bay Mills/Mission Hills blaze is reported to be 100 percent contained by wildfire incident command. Officials say the the fire was basically located at the old U.S. Forest Service Lookout Tower. Mop up will take hours and may even been needed on Sunday if flare-ups are reported due to the blustery and bitter winds that have created big waves on nearby Lake Superior.

The blaze was estimated at roughly 10 acres – with embers and winds still a concern. Wildfire took over two and a half hours to bring under control due to its remote location, the rough hilly/brushy terrain and the cold, whipping winds – plus at one point was a threat to homes if it proceeded.

The fire is no longer believed be a threat to public.

—

8:10 p.m. 11-12-16 Saturday Night Fire update:
The Dafter Township Volunteer Fire Department and the Bruce Township Volunteer Fire Department have been paged to join the fight – bringing to 5 the number of local fire departments battling the wildfire.

Beechnut and oak tree ridges are among the places affected – and the fire is near the old ski lodge.

“It’s at the old fire tower, if you know where that is,” said a fire official at 8:13 p.m.

—

8:03 p.m. 11-12-16 Firefighters are gaining a hand on the blaze.

U.S. Forest Service and Michigan DNR firefighters have arrived and joined the firefight.
Note: News media was just ordered out of the fire scene and must stage in an open area on Tower Road at Lakeshore Drive. The U.P. may be the only place in the country where the media is not allowed to cover wildfires – and are not allowed to go where they can actually see flames – even if the media is wearing the required state fire clothes – not allow. Period.

—
7:47 p.m. 11-12-16 Saturday Night Update:

The Mission Hill Wildfire Incident Command Post has been set up “at the base of Mission Hill” near Bay Mills, MI.

Plus bottled water and pizza is being brought in for thirsty and weary firefighters. The DNR arrived about 5 minutes ago with bulldozer and DNR firefighters

Upper Peninsula firefighters battling wildfires all day and tonight- worst in eastern U.P.

Wildfire being battled tonight on edge of Bay Mills Indian reservation and U.S. Forest Service Lands

By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

Numerous wildfires have been reported across the Upper Peninsula for reasons that include down power lines, high winds and illegal burning – and now a remote wildfire in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

At 7:27 p.m., the Bay Mills/Mission Hills wildfire was reported 50 percent out and contained.

About 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016 – numerous fire departments were dispatched to a remote wildfire located on an edge of Bay Mills Indian Community Reservation tribal land and U.S. Forest Service Land.

At 7:11 p.m., the Bay Mills/Mission Hills wildfire was reported moving north – northeast toward the “old ski lodge.” The wildfire was reported west of Monocle Lake and near a lodge.

“If we see flames over that hill that’s when we have to worry about the homes down there,” said one fire official who was near the fire line. “If it goes anywhere its going to head towards the old ski lodge.”

A Michigan Department of Natural Resources bulldozer and firefighters were being brought in from the Soo area.

U.P. Breaking News has heard officials discussing possible evacuations if the fire cannot be knocked down soon or moves toward homes. But no decisions have been made. No evacuations have been ordered.

The fire is being battled by the Bay Mills Township Volunteer Fire Department, the Superior Township Volunteer Fire Department and the Whitefish Township Volunteer Fire Department.

The tower is said to be off the end of West Tower Road near the Mission Hills area and located in rolling hills of brush – and the fire was said to be leading toward USFS lands with hardwoods. The Michigan DNR is also offering its firefighters and vehicles.

Among the reservation and neighboring streets blocked to normal traffic are W. Lakeshore Drive, Tower Road, Ranger Road.

Michigan State Police and the Chippewa County Sheriff’s department with traffic and all non-firefighting vehicles are being rerouted around the area and spectators are being turned back.

Meanwhile about 6:40 tonight Powell Township Fire Department firefighters were sent to a remote brush fire off County Road 550.

Firefighters were sent down a very long driveway off Brown Deer Road off CR-550. Firefighters battled the wildfire off County Road 550 for over an hour.

Powell Township firefighters cleared the scene at 7:56 p.m. Saturday.

This afternoon Sands Township firefighters battled a brush fire – and had to call for mutual aid from Chocolay Township after one of the Sands Fire trucks apparently broke down.

Plus about the same time – high winds blew power line down onto a tree along U.S.-41 near the Houghton/Baraga County line and triggered a brush fire.

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