Weather Alert: Fire Danger Up North

CADILLAC (WWJ) - Campers need to be careful if they're headed up north. The entire northern Lower Peninsula is under a Fire Weather Watch.

Carol Nilsson with the Huron-Manistee National Forest says the warm weather, little rain, and low humidity make conditions ripe for wildfires.

"The humidity has been unbelievably low this year, in the last two or three weeks anyway. And then when we get some really gusty winds or some really good winds along with that, then that makes for the red flag warning," Nilsson said.

She says any campfires should be as small as possible and surrounded with a metal ring or rocks, then drenched when you're done.

Nilsson said embers can be re-ignited a day later if winds are strong enough.

"What (campers need to be conscious of is what the wind is doing," she said. "If it's really windy, no matter how small your fire is, it can blow embers into a dry area. So, if it's a windy evening or windy afternoon it's a good idea not to even do that."

Nilsson notes that people who are responsible for starting wildfires--have to pay for the damages and cleanup.

For the latest weather conditions, keep it tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for traffic and weather, every 10 minutes on the 8s. Check the forecast and radar anytime on our weather page.