Rains reduce fire risk

Hiawatha National Forest in the central Upper Peninsula is easing restrictions put in place earlier this year to safeguard against the threat of wildfires. The measures were originally instituted on June 10th, and had limited where visitors could build campfires.

Public Affairs Officer Leah Anderson says guests should still be diligent about using best practices to keep themselves and others safe. “Keep your fire small and stay away from using flammable liquids like gasoline to start your fire. When you’re done, cool your coals. Allowing your fire to burn down to white ash and stirring the coals can release trapped heat that will keep your campfire hot. Then Drown, Stir, Feel, repeat, until your fire is dead out and cold to the touch. Popping, crackling and hissing indicate the fire is still hot, you should continue to add water and stir until you can touch the coals, making sure they are cold to the touch…If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.”

The forest service cites increasing humidity and recent rainfall as the main factors in their decision to relax their prior order.