Ridge Fire Grows to 256 Acres in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Puts North Basin Drive Homes on Standby Evacuation

Ridge Fire Grows to 256 Acres in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Puts North Basin Drive Homes on Standby Evacuation

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Sunday that the Ridge Fire in Marquette County has grown to an estimated 256 acres, placing residents along North Basin Drive under "Set" — the middle stage of the "Ready, Set, Go!" evacuation protocol. Three households along County Road 510 have already been evacuated.

Michigan DNR: 256 acres, homes at "Set" status

The fire is burning about 10 miles northwest of Marquette, between County Road 510 and North Basin Drive, in what the DNR describes as "very rugged" terrain. Residents on North Basin Drive are in the "Set" stage — packed and ready to leave — with the agency saying it will issue an update if conditions trigger "Go!", the mandatory-evacuation level. Earlier aerial reconnaissance had put the fire at "60-plus acres"; that was an early estimate, with 256 acres the latest official figure.

Three households evacuated; shelter opens in Negaunee

The DNR confirmed three households along County Road 510 have been evacuated. The Marquette County Sheriff's Office has opened an evacuation center at Negaunee Township Hall, 42 East State Hwy M-35 in Negaunee, with the American Red Cross on site to assist evacuees and their pets.

Spotted Oct. 9; cause still under investigation

Both fires were first spotted Friday afternoon, Oct. 9, by a DNR pilot; the Ridge Fire was detected at 3:55 p.m. The same bulletin covers the Craig Lake Fire in Baraga County, estimated at about 30 acres. Officials say the cause remains under investigation. The bulletin also stresses extreme fire danger across the Upper Peninsula — drought, heat and wind — with open-burning permits suspended region-wide.

Crews: 40 firefighters and two water scoopers

Forty DNR firefighters are cutting bulldozer lines on the ground, backed by two Fire Boss water-scooping aircraft from Minnesota, a Michigan State Police Aviation Type 2 helicopter and the Negaunee Township Fire Department. Incident commander Keith Murphy said the fuel is mixed conifer-hardwood atop the ridge, balsam fir and spruce in the lowlands. Both fires sit inside 5-nautical-mile temporary flight restrictions, and the western segment of the Noquemanon trail system along CR 510 is closed.

Rain or a "Go!" order: which comes first

The DNR says it will issue a new update if the fire escalates to the "Go!" mandatory-evacuation stage. Meanwhile, a cold front is forecast to bring rain to the Upper Peninsula on Monday. Whether the rain knocks the fire down first, or a mandatory evacuation order comes first, will be decided in the next 48 hours.

Keywords: Ridge Fire, Michigan, wildfire, standby evacuation, Marquette County