Luce County, MI in the UP

[fnnm1062]

A large wildfire that started yesterday afternoon (8/2) possibly from a lighning strike has grown from an estimated 1500 acres this morning (8/3) to over 5000 by 1800 hrs (8/3). There are several agencies on scene and a state of emergency has been declared. Evacuation orders are in place for parts of Luce County at this time and numerous roads are being closed. This fire is less than 10% contained, still burning out of control and growing rapidly. Nearby another fire believed to be about 50 acres is burning and there are several fires ranging from 1-10 acres burning across the U.P. Fire danger conditions are being listed as extreme and burning is not allowed.

 

[garryd451]

Anybody hearing traffic about this fire?

 

[iMONITOR]

Upper Peninsula fire grows to 9,700 acres
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070805/NEWS06/70805022/1118/RSS

 

[garryd451]

Too bad Luce County didn't get the heavy rain that we got today, down here in Cass County!

 

[fnnm1062]

update

The fire has now grown to almost 15,000 acres. It has jumped several fire breaks, but not known to have damged any structures. Voluntary evacs ae in place and there have been no injuries. There is aprrox 100 ff's ( from multiple agencies) along w/ several dozers, 2 water bombers, and 2 helicopters battiling the blaze (addt'l help is on stand-by). From what I have heard this is the largest fire in the U.P. in modern history. Hopefully they can gain they upper hand soon, it is only 10% contained at this time and will not be fully u/c until we see a decent rain, agording to 1 MDNR spokesperson.

Best websites to visit for info are:

www.wluctv6.com
www.9and10news.com
www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/fire

 

[rdale]

Smoke visible from space...

http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bi...at=44.3&lon=-85.8&width=900&height=700&zoom=1

If you look near the Mac Bridge you'll see a shark fin just northwest of it... Imagine the shark is faced west - the smoke is where his eyes would be, and it streams southeast.

 

[Firetxmi]

I'm listening to the traffic as we speak. I actually got called out to it earlier and will probably be out there helping tomorrow.

They are having a heck of a time with pushes because of the winds. It is jumping lines and moving fairly quick. They have 4 helos (from the national guard) and a few water bombers working very actively with the ground divisions. They are calling in tons of help from Chippewa County fire departments (all volunteer depts.).

I'll keep you updated as I hear more.

Most traffic is on DNR high band fire tac freqs. Although the aircraft and general ops are on TG 1299 (identified as "fire 1")

 

[Firetxmi]

update:

Tanker ops have stopped for tonight at 18:23 and tankers are returning to Sault Ste. Marie.

Ground crews still having a go at it, and are just now receiving their meals.

The water tankers are having some conflicts with the Helos. "Air 1" and "Air 16" were threatening to quit if their wasn't better coordination immediately. Apparently they were all assigned to work "Charlie" front of the fire and the Helos were flying blindly into the smoke and the tankers were nervous that they would either hit each other or hit one of the tankers. The problem was resolved but there is a big meeting scheduled for tonight to address the issue. Apparently the "Charlie" front is priority.

Some of the ground crews are focusing on saving structures and some of the Commanders are driving around on ATV's looking for structures and seeing what needs to be evacuated.

More to come as I get it.

 

[iMONITOR]

U.P. fire starts to worry some residents
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070807/UPDATE/708070409/1003/rss36

 

[garryd451]

The link below contains the most recent news on the fire thatt i can find!

http://www.radioeagle.com/newberry/NEWS.php

Below are the best pictures I found!

http://www.superiorsights.com/newberry_wildfire/NEWS.php

 

[Firetxmi]

The DNR has put up a map:

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/sleepermap86_204987_7.pdf

It is getting really bad. I am scheduled to go out early tomorrow morning and help. I will be relieving a crew. The winds are supposed to pick up tonight. Mandatory evacs are in place as well as optional ones. The Red Cross is out there setting up bunk rooms at churches and schools to house us.

For more info see the DNR website:
http://michigan.gov/dnr

 

[fnnm1062]

Fire is now approaching 17,000 acres, growth was slowed a little over night by rain that lasted for about an hour. The stories below tell of Gov Granholm send National Guard in now to assist, 200 residents have been evac'd, and ff's are still struggiling to contain the blaze.

Here are news stories related to the ongoing fire:

http://www.9and10news.com/category/story/?id=120321
http://www.9and10news.com/category/story/?id=120324
http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6895941

 

[Firetxmi]

I was out there assisting again today. Conditions are A LOT better!

Fire is at almost 20,000 acres making it the second largest fire in Michigan history.

I will add some frequencies in a bit.

 

[Firetxmi]

As promised the frequencies are here:

http://radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77916

 

[MetroMike]

Governor Granholm issued an Executive Order today declaring the fire a state emergency.

http://mich.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21975-173724--,00.html