Lightning strike confirmed as cause of Black River Fire

Officials determine two of the Rugged Terrain Complex wildfires in the UP started by lightning strikes; cause of Ridge Fire remains under investigation

As fire crews on the ground battle to suppress and contain the Rugged Terrain Complex wildfires in the Upper Peninsula, officials have confirmed that a lightning strike was the cause of the Black River Fire. This was also the confirmed cause of the Craig Lake Fire; the cause of the Ridge Fire remains under investigation.

After the urgency of the initial attack when fighting a wildfire, gathering evidence to establish the cause of the wildfire becomes a priority. By interpreting micro and macro indicators, trained wildland fire investigators begin piecing together the puzzle of understanding the fire’s origin and cause. Information from recent weather events, lightning strike maps and longer-term fire risk indicators are reviewed in a high-level desktop analysis. Meanwhile, fire crews on the ground battle to suppress and contain the blaze.

As containment of the fire progresses and safer conditions exist, investigators use site-specific observations to trace burn patterns back to the origin of the fire, where they can better isolate indicators of cause.

“The way an individual leaf curls or ‘freezes’ in the heat, the direction the grass stems fall or the angle of char on tree trunks can lead us back to where the fire started,” said Deputy Incident Commander Jennifer Hansen. “We study these details to help determine the cause.”

In the Black River Fire, now 70% contained, it was the charring pattern on a group of cedar trees, validated by lightning strike mapping, that led investigators to confirm lightning as the cause. Lightning was also the cause of the Craig Lake Fire, now 90% contained. The Ridge Fire cause remains under investigation while crews diligently gain on containment, with recent work increasing containment to 50%.

Containment is the status of a wildfire suppression action indicating that a control line has been completed around a fire and any associated spot fires, which can reasonably be expected to stop the fire’s spread. Containment can be created by natural features on the landscape like wetlands or rivers, or existing infrastructure including roads or power line clearings. Where those do not exist, firefighters work to establish containment lines using bulldozers and plows, or hand tools in locations too difficult for heavy equipment to access.

Ridge Fire

The Ridge Fire estimate remains at 466 acres with 50% containment. The Ridge Fire is located 10 miles northwest of Marquette and north of the Dead River Basin and west of County Road 510. 

“Ready” status continues for residents along North Basin Drive, according to the “Ready, Set, Go!” protocol. Residents are encouraged to continue to be prepared in case conditions change. The Noquemanon Trail system west of the trailhead on County Road 510 remains closed.

Craig Lake Fire

Craig Lake State Park, north of Craig Lake proper and the Teddy Lake Yurt, remain closed through the end of October to ensure the safety of the public during ongoing wildfire suppression efforts.

The North Country Trail within Craig Lake State Park also remains closed due to ongoing fire suppression operations.

The remainder of Craig Lake State Park is open to the public.

Black River Fire

The public should continue avoiding the area to protect everyone’s safety and to avoid interfering in fire suppression operations.

As always, the DNR reminds people to check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit before planning to burn yard debris or start a campfire, and to have an accessible water source nearby. For more fire safety tips, visit Michigan.gov/PreventWildfires.

Note to editors: Accompanying photos taken Sunday in the Black River Fire area are available below for download. The Rugged Terrain Complex includes three fires: the Black Lake, Craig Lake and Ridge fires. Caption information follows. Photos courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

• DNR bulldozer: A Michigan Department of Natural Resources bulldozer returns from completing a containment line in the Black River Fire area in Gogebic County.
• Lightning strike: Evidence of charring high up the trunk of cedar trees struck by lightning, which caused the Black River Fire.