August 16, 2007

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today banned outdoor burning in 75 counties in Michigan due to the extremely high wildfire danger that continues to threaten most of the state.  The ban covers most of the Lower Peninsula and all of the Upper Peninsula
 
The emergency ban takes effect at 4:36 p.m. on Friday, August 17 and will remain in effect until conditions change significantly to reduce the risk of fire.
 
"The persistent drought conditions across Michigan's Lower and Upper Peninsulas, coupled with the hot, dry weather, are creating dangerous conditions for wildfires to occur," Granholm said.  "We are already battling a major wildfire in Luce County, and any open flame is a hazard to our state at this time; that is why I have ordered this burning ban."
 
The ban covers the following counties: Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Calhoun, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Houghton, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Iosco, Iron, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Keweenaw, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Livingston, Luce, Mackinac, Macomb, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Midland, Missaukee, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, St Clair, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, and Wexford.
 
The ban prohibits the following acts on forest lands or lands adjacent to forest lands:

- burning of any flammable material, including refuse, brush, stumps, rubbish, grass, stubble, leaves, or crop residue;

- burning materials in a burn barrel;

- pipe, cigar and/or cigarette smoking outdoors adjacent to forest lands, with the exception of places of habitation, authorized and improved campgrounds, or in any automobile or truck; and,

- all campfires except those within containers at public or private campgrounds that have permanent staff on site or at places of habitation.

Campfires will not be allowed at any state forest campgrounds or other similar unsupervised, rustic campgrounds.

A violation of the burning ban is a misdemeanor.  In addition, anyone responsible for starting a wildfire is liable for the cost of suppressing the fire.

The ban does not include charcoal grills or propane or liquid-fueled camping stoves.

"We believe this ban is necessary to protect Michigan's natural resources and our citizens from the very serious threat of wildfire conditions in the state currently," said Department of Natural Resources Director Rebecca Humphries.  "We urge all citizens to be partners with us in this effort to prevent any new wildfires from occurring in the state.  Our resources are stretched thin due to the amount of wildfire activity we are seeing in the state this summer."

The last time an outdoor burning ban was signed was May 21, 1998, when a similar ban was issued for the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula.

The U.S. Forest Service may have additional restrictions on national forest lands. Citizens and visitors should contact the appropriate National Forest office.

For more information on wildfires and wildfire prevention, please visit the Department of Natural Resources' Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr.  The DNR also has established three regional contacts across the state for updates on the burn ban: Paul Kollmeyer at the Cadillac Operations Service Center at 231-775-9727; James Fisher at the Roscommon Incident Coordination Center at 989-275-5151; and Allan Keto at the Marquette Incident Coordination Center at 906-249-1497.

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