The citizens of Luce County were recognized as Partners in Conservation by the Department of Natural Resources as yesterday's Natural Resources Commission meeting in Munising.

The DNR's Partner in Conservation Award is given six times a year to individuals or organizations that have helped the DNR protect Michigan's natural resources.

The award recognizes the citizens of the county, local businesses, and local chapters of the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army for their community support for the DNR and firefighters from other states and provinces during last year's Sleeper Lake wildfire.

"The citizens of Luce County were instrumental in our success fighting the third largest wildfire in modern Michigan history," said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries. "Their support - whether it was volunteering to wash firefighters' clothes or cheering firefighters as they returned to station each evening - made a huge difference in the morale of the firefighters and continues today with efforts to help rehabilitate the burned area."

The Sleeper Lake wildfire started on Aug. 2, 2007 with a lightning strike and grew to 18,185 acres by the time it was declared out.

"The support of the citizens of Luce County started on the first day of the fire, and it did not wane until we contained the fire four and one-half weeks later," said DNR Forest, Mineral and Fire Management Division Chief Lynne Boyd. "Many firefighters from other states and provinces remarked they had never experienced community support like they did in Luce County. It was unprecedented, especially from a small community, and will not be forgotten by our firefighters."

Community support ranged from donated baked goods to making lunches every day for the firefighters. Many people and area businesses donated personal items, such as shampoo and socks to firefighters. Community businesses donated truckloads of beverages and snacks, as well as posting messages of support on their outdoor signs. The local radio stations and newspaper provided constant coverage of the fire, and included information about evacuations and road closures.

"On several occasions, firefighters would return from the line to find crowds of residents lining the main street and cheering for them," said DNR Fire Supervisor Scott Heather. "Groups of citizens completed more than 300 loads of laundry and returned clean laundry with notes of thanks and food items to firefighters. Between the prepared meals, laundry and donated personal items, the citizens of Luce County saved state taxpayers quite a bit of money while we were fighting this fire."

Heather said that Web sites and blogs created by local residents also helped get messages out about the fire in a timely manner. A recent show of support by the community was naming DNR firefighters as grand marshals of the Newberry Fourth of July Parade.

Humphries noted that the community support hasn't waned almost a year later. Many Luce County citizens have called the local DNR offices offering to help with rehabilitation efforts.

"There is absolutely no doubt that the assistance that the citizens of Luce County gave us was an advantage while combating this fire," Heather said. "Many of these efforts helped reduce firefighter fatigue, kept up morale and increased the firefighters comfort as they remained away from home for several weeks. They helped us greatly in resource protection, which is one of the main missions of the DNR."

Persons or organizations receiving the DNR Partner in Conservation Award are nominated by employees of the DNR and are recognized at an NRC meeting by DNR Director Rebecca Humphries and NRC Chair Keith Charters.