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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Upper Peninsula Breaking News by Greg Peterson 