Although overall responsibility for wildfire suppression and prevention in the state rests with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, personnel from the U.S. Forest Service and local volunteer fire departments provide significant assistance to this effort.
The backbone of the wildfire suppression operation is a force of highly trained fire fighters equipped with modern specialized heavy equipment designed for this rugged assignment. The majority of these wildfires occur during April, May and June with minor occurrences the rest of the summer and fall.
Aircraft are used for fire detection purposes. These detection aircraft provide early warning of fires and an accurate description of its location and behavior. This offers an additional measure of safety to the fire fighters on the ground.
Aggressive fire prevention efforts are targeted at many areas. A computerized program allows fire personnel to focus these efforts in areas of high fire occurrence and high property values.
A growing nationwide concern for fires in areas where cities and wildlands meet is of similar concern in Michigan. Every year buildings are lost due to wildfire. Michigan's Stephan Bridge fire in 1990 destroyed 76 homes and 125 other structures in one afternoon. Michigan State government has accepted the challenge to reduce the wildfire risk associated with this city/wildland interfere and is currently developing.
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