Crews are still trying to contain a wildfire that has now burned 2,600 acres in the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service says crews have been working to contain the fire, but several spot fires crossed the containment line at Pine Creek. The Department of Natural Resources plans on burning out state lands between M-28 and the North Seney Refuge boundaries. According to M-DOT the plan involves closing M-28 between Shingleton and Seney to allow DNR fire crews to conduct back-burning operations from the highway. Traffic will be detoured from the northern U.P. To U.S. 2 in the southern U.P. on M-94 between Shingleton and Manistique and M-77 between Engadine and Newberry. Roads in the area are closed however, the visitor center, a foot trail and C-3 pool that is open to fishing are still open for visitors. What is now known as the Pine Creek North Fire is believed to have been triggered by a lightning strike stemming from a large storm system that moved through the U.P. Sunday.
The State Senate has approved a bill allowing shoreline owners to groom their waterfront property without being required to obtain a permit from the state. The bill, authored by State Senator Tom Casperson of Delta County, now goes to the house for consideration. Supporters of the bill say it eliminates unnecessary red tape and protects the property rights of owners. Specifically the bill deals with beach maintenance when water levels are lower than normal. It says the owners don’t need a permit to clean vegetation and debris on the beach between the normal high-water mark and the current water level.
The Michigan Department of Transportation says that to help make travel easier during the Memorial Day holiday weekend it’s lifting traffic restrictions on 94 of 132 construction projects statewide. Beginning at 3 P.M. tomorrow and continuing until 6 A.M. On Tuesday, May 29, M-DOT is suspending road work wherever possible. 38 work zones, including three in the U.P., will remain active, or have lane restrictions, during the Memorial Day weekend.
