Michigan Ag Connection - Keep Fire Safety in Mind this Weekend

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Keep Fire Safety in Mind this Weekend
Michigan Ag Connection - 05/27/2016

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds residents and travelers always to be careful with their outdoor fires during this Memorial Day weekend. Weather forecasts for the holiday weekend call for varying amounts of precipitation, which could possibly leave some areas with pockets of high wildfire danger.

"Memorial Day weekend is a great time to be outdoors with friends and family," said Bryce Avery, DNR fire prevention specialist. "One of the most popular outdoor pastimes is cooking and visiting around a campfire. Even with damp conditions, everyone needs to ensure that their campfires are completely extinguished. These fires can hold hot embers for several days and reignite after conditions dry again."

Avery also said that because most wildfires are caused by people burning yard debris, it's important for them to check www.michigan.gov/burnpermit prior to burning to make sure the DNR is issuing burn permits in their local areas.

The DNR suggests the following tips to prevent the risk of outdoor fires escaping:

-- Never leave a fire unattended.

-- Keep campfires small.

-- Be sure to have water nearby.

-- When putting a campfire out, drown it with water and then stir until it is cold to the touch.

-- Dispose of charcoal by dunking it in water and placing it into a metal container.

-- Only use fireworks in driveways, parking lots, on gravel or in dirt-covered areas.

So far this season, the DNR has responded to 145 wildfires, which have burned more than 439 acres and threatened 210 structures.

Learn about the DNR's firefighting efforts and more on how to prevent wildfires by visiting www.michigan.gov/preventwildfires or by contacting the nearest DNR office.

Stay on top of the latest news on Michigan wildfires -- including boundaries, containment, road closures, donation opportunities and more. Sign up for wildfire incident updates by visiting www.michigan.gov/dnr and clicking on the red envelope to get started.

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