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State warns of high fire risk amid warm, dry weather

 Current fire risk conditions for May 11, 2023
Huron-Manistee National Forests
Current fire risk conditions for May 11, 2023

Warm and sunny weather in Northern Michigan has been a welcome relief to a cold and rainy April. But low humidity and dry weather has increased the risk of wildfires.

The majority of wildfires in Michigan are caused by people. Burning yard waste is responsible for nearly half of wildfires in the state.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recommends keeping a hose nearby when burning, and never leaving a fire unattended.

Most counties are not issuing burn permits at the moment and advise against open burning.

The fire risk is expected to remain high through the weekend.

Teresa Homsi is an environmental reporter and Report for America Corp Member based in northern Michigan for WCMU. She is covering rural environmental issues, public health and Michigan commerce. Homsi has a bachelor’s from Central Michigan University in environmental studies, journalism and anthropology. During her undergraduate, she was a beat reporter for CMU’s student newspaper Central Michigan Life and interned for the Huron Daily Tribune. She has also interned for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy in the superfund section. *Report for America is a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms, more info at https://www.reportforamerica.org/
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