Be sure to get a permit before you do any burning this spring. That’s the message from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as fire prevention specialist Paul Rogers tells WSJM News the conditions are favorable for wildfires in the Lower Peninsula at this time. What’s the most common cause of a wildfire?
“Over 90% are human-caused, and a majority of those are from outdoor debris burning,” Rogers said. “Over 80% of our calls are a direct result of people burning brush, leaves, things like that.”
Rogers says when a wildfire starts, the person who started it will frequently say they were burning and it got out of control quickly.
“The first, best step is to make sure your local authorities are issuing burn permits. Here in southern Michigan, most of the time, if they can burn, the permits are authorized by the fire department. They work with us and they look at our sites, and we have a site that shows that the weather conditions are.”
Rogers advises those who do have an outdoor fire to make sure they have a rake and a bucket of water nearby. He says that could make all the difference. Also, the DNR says if you’re operating an ORV, power tools, or other machinery, remember a hot muffler or engine can ignite dry leaves or grass, so keep machines away from those and other potential fuel sources.
