Firefighters have almost contained a wildfire that broke out Tuesday in Wexford County, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said.
The agency said it was reopening roads and allowing people to reenter homes that were off-limits when the fire was spreading about 20 miles southeast of Traverse City.
Rains overnight helped firefighters suppress the blaze, and on Wednesday they were using bulldozers to make firebreaks and put out flare-ups in spotty areas, the DNR said.
More than a dozen fire departments and five aircraft helped fight the flames on Tuesday, but by Wednesday the DNR said it and the Colfax/Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department were the only authorities working the fire.
The fire started on a private pine tree plantation and spread to state forest land, the DNR said. It had burned more than 400 acres.
The DNR said anyone burning outdoors should clear vegetation around the fire, have a water source nearby, and ensure that the fire is completely extinguished before leaving it unattended.
The department said the cause of this fire was still under investigation on Wednesday.
