Red Flag

This weekend the National Weather Service posted a Red Flag Warning for most of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.  This notifies residents that "extreme burning conditions" are forecast and wildfire is possible.

An experimental wildfire in Canada.  (Wikimedia Photo)

Red Flag conditions include sustained wind in excess of 15 mph, relative humidity of 25 percent or less, and temperatures over 75 degrees F.  When these factors exist, the area is ripe for fire.  That's exactly what happened this past Saturday at Camp Grayling, the National Guard base southwest of Presque Isle.  A fire on a munitions range spread over 80 acres before being contained.  Personnel and equipment from 11 fire departments were needed to control the blaze.

Presque Isle may well be ripe for a wildfire.  We have not had a serious fire since early in the 20th century.  There is a lot of fuel on the ground, we've had little rain, and people love to run their ATVs through the woods.  A spark from one of these vehicles, or some other form of carelessness, could create a major problem.  There has been talk about encouraging people to clean up dead wood on their properties to reduce the fuel load.

Meanwhile, no precipitation is forecast until next Monday. •••