Crews battle fires amid Red Flag Warning

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Several fire departments battled fires Sunday amid a Red Flag Warning that was issued by the National Weather Service for some West Michigan counties.

Around 10:15 a.m., NWS issued a red flag warning for 14 counties including Barry, Calhoun, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent and Montcalm counties. The warning was in effect until 8 p.m. Sunday.

Winds were expected to come from the west at 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. The NWS said that there is relative humidity — as low as 25% — and temperatures are in the mid 70s.

“A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. The combination of strong winds…low relative humidity…and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior,” the NWS’s website said. “Be careful with any activities that could potentially lead to a wildfire. Camping…outdoor grills…smoking materials…chain saws…and all terrain vehicles all have the potential to throw a spark and ignite a dangerous and destructive fire.”

Paul Rogers, a fire prevention specialist for the Michigan DNR, said campfires are still permitted but you must have water nearby.

“Make sure it’s a small fire, it doesn’t have to be a big blaze,” he said. “It’s supposed to only be cooking or warming fires.”

The possibility of grass fires increases during the spring and fall with the presence of dry vegetation. A lack of rain in recent months and the deepening drought conditions compounded the risk Sunday. Combined with wind gusts stretching above 40 mph, fires can also spread efficiently.

The burn bans were in effect for several West Michigan counties Sunday. According to the DNR, open debris burning was not allowed in counties like Muskegon, Newaygo and Oceana.

“We will continue not allowing burn permits across the majority of the state for the remainder of the week until we get some significant rainfall,” Rogers said.

Visit the Michigan Department of Natural Resource website for more information on burn bans.

BLENDON TOWNSHIP FIRE

In Blendon Township, multiple fire crews battled a barn fire, a house fire and a fire in the nearby woods on Taylor Street near 56th Avenue on Sunday afternoon.

A News 8 crew at the scene saw fire crews battling a building fire when neighbors ran up and said that their barn was on fire. Another person ran up and notified crews that nearby woods were also on fire. News 8 saw flames in the woods and more fire crews arriving.

By 3 p.m., the fires appeared to be extinguished with crews remaining on the scene to put out any hotspots.

When Blendon Township firefighters first arrived on scene, they say winds over 30 mph caused the blaze to spread to other properties nearby. It created multiple grass fires and set a nearby shed on fire, Blendon Township Deputy Chief Sean Miller told News 8.

“The wind definitely amplifies everything,” Miller said. “It’s extremely dry. We’re lacking some water right now.”

Rogers said that “grasses are dry and ready to burn.”

“With leaves starting to drop, that’s adding extra fuel to the floor of the forest,” he said. “All those are in combination with the fact that wind was really unbelievable today.”

Several departments responded to the fire. With help from a thermal imaging drone, crews helped make sure the fire didn’t spread to other homes and neighborhoods. No one was hurt. The barn is considered to be a total loss.

CALHOUN COUNTY FIRES

Just before 3 p.m. in Emmett Charter Township, debris ignited in a field near where a homeowner was burning vegetation. Crews battled a fire on several fields of dry corn stock near the area of D Drive N and 9 Mile Road. A News 8 crew at the scene saw white smoke from nearly four miles away.

Crews from Marshall Township, Emmett Township and other commuters spent part of the afternoon tracking the fire through farm field and woods. Firefighters say 12 to 15 acres of farm field and woods were burned.

It’s unclear how the fire started. Larry Day, a farmer next door to the fire, said soybean dust can be a common starter to these field fires.

“Any fires can be started, everything is so dry. The grass, crops, soybeans, combines are catching on fire,” Day said.

His biggest concern was flames spreading to his field with dry corn stocks, so he brought in one of his workers to clear parts of his field.

“He’s out there chisel plowing around the fire, making a fire burn so the fire can’t jump. This wind is picking up that soybean stubble and throwing it other fires in the field,” said Day.

Officials said a little before 3 p.m., a much smaller fire started in a soybean field near Newton Township when a combine vehicle sparked a fire, officials said. That fire was put out by Leroy Township and Athens Township crews.

A firefighter told News 8 that multiple fires during a dry day like Sunday can drain resources, but that’s when they rely on partnerships between townships.

“A day like today, once it seems like the grass fires start, once one department goes out for a fire, there’s two or three other departments going out for a fire of their own,” said Marvin Tenbrink, assistant chief at Leroy Township Fire Department. “Having mutual aid from neighboring department because everyone has a little bit of different equipment that helps us do what we need to do get done.”

Officials are reminding people to avoid burn brush or other material during the current dry conditions.

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