Michigan Declares Craig Lake, Black River Fires Contained
Two Upper Peninsula wildfires have been fully contained, while the Ridge Fire near Marquette has reached 85 percent containment.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Current Conditions
Live Poll
Do you think people in your area are careful enough when burning outdoors?
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources declared the Craig Lake and Black River wildfires fully contained. The Ridge Fire near Marquette has reached 85 percent containment.
Why it matters
Full containment of the Craig Lake and Black River fires reduces risk for residents and visitors in the Upper Peninsula. Ongoing work on the Ridge Fire and forecast snow are expected to aid final containment.
The Craig Lake and Black River fires covered 600 and 350 acres respectively and are now fully contained, based on DNR status reports. The Ridge Fire covers 500 acres and is 85 percent contained, and its cause has not been determined.
The players
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The state agency responsible for managing Michigan's natural resources, including wildfire detection and suppression on state lands.
U.S. Forest Service
The federal agency that managed the Black River Fire until the Michigan DNR assumed control on Oct. 13.
The details
Recent heavy rainfall extinguished deep pockets of hot spots in the fire areas. DNR pilots detected the Craig Lake, Black River, and Ridge fires from the air, and the Craig Lake and Black River fires were both caused by lightning strikes.
Timeline
Oct. 8: A DNR pilot detected the Craig Lake Fire.
Oct. 9: A DNR pilot spotted the Ridge Fire.
Oct. 11: The Black River Fire was initially detected.
Oct. 13: The DNR took over management of the Black River Fire from the U.S. Forest Service.
Nov. 6: The DNR announced the containment status of the fires.
Seasonal Patterns
The DNR's use of pilots to spot wildfires from the air in the Upper Peninsula is a standing part of its fire detection program. These three fires, all sparked in early October, fit into the region's seasonal fire risk tied to dry fall conditions.
Residents planning outdoor burning should check the Michigan DNR burn permit system before lighting any fire. Forecast snow may aid final containment of the Ridge Fire, but people should continue to avoid the affected areas until officials report full containment.
The takeaway
Heavy rainfall and aerial detection helped bring two fires under control, but the Ridge Fire remains active until it reaches full containment. Checking burn permit rules before any outdoor fire is a simple step to reduce risk.
Further reading
For ongoing updates, see the latest Current Conditions reports for Michigan.
More information
Check whether a burn permit is required before any outdoor burning at the Michigan DNR burn permit check.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Uppermichiganssource.
Live Poll
Do you think people in your area are careful enough when burning outdoors?
