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Michigan
Wildfire--- Fact or Fiction?
Like tornadoes and other natural disasters there are many myths
about wildfires that have been handed down through the generations,
or just assumed by Michigan residents. This portion of our Wildfire
Season series will test your knowledge on wildfires in Michigan.
Fact or Fiction?
Michigan only experiences a handful of wildfires each year.
This one is fiction. While most of our wildfires are smaller
and don't make the news, Michigan experiences around 6000 to
8000 wildfires each year. Most of these are handled by local
fire departments. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources
assists when necessary. Even though most of these firs are relatively
small, between 100 and 200 homes and outbuildings are damaged
or destroyed by wildfires each year.
Fact or Fiction?
Most Michigan wildfires occur in the fall season. This is fiction.
While western and mountain states have more problems with wildfire
in the summer and fall, Michigan has more wildfire occurrences
in the spring due to the dead vegetation remaining from our
winters. Brown leaves and grass are fuel types that ignite easily.
Fact or Fiction?
Most wildfires in Michigan are caused by people. This one is
true. Wildfire reviews after each fire have shown that 98 percent
of all wildfires here are caused by human activity. About 1/3
to _ of all wildfires in Michigan are caused by people burning
debris. This is why spring is our peak season for wildfire,
i.e., many people are out raking and burning yard waste. Smoking
and lightning make up only about 2-4- percent of all wildfires
combine, in Michigan. Other causes are heat from exhaust systems
such as ATV’s or catalytic converters, equipment fires,
camping, trains, arson, and other miscellaneous fire starts.
Fact or Fiction?
Most burn barrels are illegal according to Michigan law. This
is also true. Michigan fire law requires a burn barrel to have
a lid, and holes in the barrel for ventilation should be no
larger than _ inch in diameter. As we are all aware, few burn
barrels meet this criteria. The problem is that without a lid,
flying embers called “fire brands” can float out of
the barrel and set nearby vegetation on fire.
Fact or Fiction?
Burning permits are only required in some townships. This is
false. Michigan fire law requires a burning permit anytime a
person wishes to burn debris. If the ground is snow-covered
a permit is not needed, and for campfires, a permit is not needed.
Farmers must also have a burn permit unless the fire is part
of the existing cropping operation only, and still the farmer
should contact the fire department to check on weather conditions
and fire danger. Burning is not allowed for any reason within
1400 feet of a city limits, or if the local jurisdiction prohibits
burning.
Fact or Fiction?
When the ground is damp from recent snowmelt, there is no concern
about spring wildfires. This is of course fiction. Dead leaves
and brush can dry out and ignite even if the ground underneath
is damp. These "fine fuels" are also referred to by
wildfire experts as "1-hour fuels" because they need
only about an hour of sunlight and breeze to dry them out to
a point where they are combustible.
Fact or Fiction?
As long as I have a burning permit, I am protected if the fire
gets away and causes a wildfire. This is also fiction. Michigan
fire law states that the person who performs the burning is
responsible to maintain the fire, even if he or she has a permit.
If a person is negligent when burning debris and a wildfire
causes fire fighters and the MDNR to put the fire out, that
person can be cited and fined. In some cases, that person can
also be billed for the State's cost to put the fire out. In
recent years, some homeowners have received bills for as much
as $10,000 and $12000.00 for these costs.
Fact or Fiction?
Fire fighters may have difficulty getting to some rural homes
to put out a fire. This is true given the right setting. A number
of homeowners place their rural home hundred of yards back from
the road. A basic fire truck is very big…about 10 feet
wide, 11-12 feet tall, and a minimum of 20 tons in weight when
loaded with water. A long, narrow, winding drive may prohibit
a fire truck from getting to the house, which means hose must
be dragged the length of the driveway. During this time, the
house may be burning. Driveways should allow clearance of 12-14'
of width (including gates), 14-15' of overhead clearance, a
grade of no more than 10-15 percent, a turnaround in the case
of long driveways, and a road bed, culverts and bridges that
can support 20-30 tons of weight so that fire vehicles can get
close to the structure.
Fact or Fiction?
Having a Firewise home--concepts such as defensible space, fire
resistant roofing and building materials, metal street address
signs, keeping the area below a wooden deck free of leaves and
litter, etc.--could mean the difference between a house surviving
and being destroyed when a wildfire passes. True. Studies in
western states show that 85 percent of homes that survived wildfires
had 30-50 feet of defensible space and fire resistant roofing.
In addition, we assume that with one call, the fire trucks will
be on their way. Homeowners usually do not consider that it
may take the trucks a while to get to a wildfire and/or burning
home, or that they are already fighting fires on the other side
of the fire district. Having a Firewise home might save the
home should a wildfire get started or keep the fire at bay until
the fire crew arrives.
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