Fire danger remains very high to extreme across the state, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The risk of wildfires spreading is hitting all-time highs as humidity levels remain low and rainfall is lacking in the forecast, the DNR told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday.
The DNR has responded to nearly 200 wildfires so far this year. Ranging from a half acre to a fire that scorched 2,400 acres last weekend near the City of Grayling.
Only two weather stations across Michigan are not showing elevated risks for wildfires. They are the tip of the thumb and in the far northwest of the upper peninsula.
"This is a unique situation for Michigan. We don’t typically see fire weather indices this high for this long across this much area," said Dan Heckman, a member of the DNR’s wildfire incident management team.
Heckman added that the risk of intense wildfires is at its highest level ever since the DNR began collecting wildfire data in 1975.
The DNR is asking people to avoid burning anything. They say burn permits are not being handed out until further notice. They say 98% percent of wildfires are caused by humans.
Resources from as far as South Dakota and Wisconsin are being stationed across the state to respond to wildfires.
