GRAYLING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said crews worked through the night to contain a 3,000 acre wildfire that broke out and spread on Saturday afternoon in Crawford County, closed I-75, and forced evacuations.
As of Saturday night, crews contained the fire to 2,400 acres. Police reopened I-75 and lifted the evacuation order.
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center in response to the Crawford County fire and a 300 acre fire in Iosco County. That evacuation order has been lifted as well.
Michigan has seen steady dry and hot conditions for many days which has prompted burn warnings from the DNR.
Michigan DNR firefighters worked together with other crews to put out the fire, including: Michigan State Police, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Grayling Station 2, Grayling Public Safety, the Gaylord City Fire Department and fire departments from Grayling Township, Kalkaska, Blue Lake, Beaver Creek, Markey Township, Higgins Township, Richfield Township, South Branch Township, Frederic Township, Otsego County, Cold Springs and Denton Township fire departments.
The cause of the Crawford County fire is unknown and is under investigation.
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