Stronach Township Fire Department

05/29/2026

🔥 ELEVATED FIRE DANGER — Stronach Township & Northern Lower Michigan
📅 In effect through 8:00 PM EDT today, Friday May 29, 2026
The National Weather Service (Ga***rd) has issued a Special Weather Statement for elevated fire danger across all of Northern Lower Michigan today.
⚠️ Conditions of concern:
• Relative humidity: 20–30% (late morning through evening)
• Winds: W/NW sustained 7–12 mph, gusting to 20–30 mph
• Drying fuels and fire-conducive conditions throughout the day
These conditions support rapid fire start and spread. Please take this seriously.
🚫 STRONACH TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT strongly advises:
• No open burning of any kind today
• Extinguish all outdoor fires, grills, and fire pits before leaving them unattended
• Keep equipment and vehicles away from dry grass
• Report any smoke or fire immediately — call 911
For Michigan burning permit information: www.dnr.state.mi.us/burnpermits
Stay safe out there. We're ready if you need us.
— Fred R. LaPoint, Fire Chief

05/22/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18DJ36jXPn/

Fb 🔥🧨Fire Danger is in the VERY HIGH category today across the Huron-Manistee National Forests.

Wildfires sparked from equipment use, campfires or debris burning start easily from most causes.

♨️During VERY HIGH fire danger, fires will spread rapidly and have a quick increase in intensity, right after ignition. Small fires can quickly become large fires and exhibit extreme fire intensity, such as long-distance spotting and fire whirls. These fires can be difficult to control and will often become much larger and longer-lasting fires.

CAMPING, COOKING AND WARMING FIRES MUST BE DEAD OUT AND COLD TO THE TOUCH.

💧Drown, Stir, Feel, Repeat, until the coals are COLD.🌡

🔍Monitor conditions at https://glff.mesowest.org/map/...

Do Your Part! Don’t Let A Wildfire Start!

05/22/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BJdeXguPB/ Please, no open burning! The home/property you save may be your own.

ELEVATED fire danger is expected across much of northern lower Michigan today as dry vegetation and low relative humidity combine with gusty east winds. Please check the Michigan DNR website for burn restrictions.

05/01/2026

Prescribed burns conducted by the Huron-Manistee National Forest Service are a critical land management tool that serves both public safety and ecological health across nearly one million acres of northern Michigan forest. The primary driver is hazardous fuel reduction — the layer of duff, leaves, needles, and woody debris that accumulates on the forest floor is the primary fuel source for wildfires, and controlled burning eliminates it before it can feed an uncontrolled fire. The Forest Service ignites prescribed fires in spring and fall when conditions allow for slow, low-intensity burning, using carefully written burn plans that account for temperature, humidity, wind, vegetation moisture, and smoke dispersal. Beyond fire risk reduction, much of the northern Michigan forest is Red and Jack Pine — two species that depend on fire for seed germination — and prescribed burns actively promote their regeneration while supporting habitat for threatened species including the Kirtland's Warbler. White-tailed deer, turkey, grouse, songbirds, butterflies, and turtles all rely on burned areas for food, cover, and breeding habitat. Simply put, prescribed fire isn't just about preventing the next wildfire — it's about maintaining the ecological integrity of the forest itself, a balance that has been managed in the Huron-Manistee since the 1960s and 70s.

Favorable weather conditions are in place the Week of April 26 –May 2, 2026 for hazardous fuels reduction work in the Huron-Manistee NFs (HMNFs).

Please refer back to Inciweb and this page – our official channels for real-time updates – to ensure you have the most accurate information rather than relying on third-party shares.

Rx burns are planned events that are matched to predetermined weather/fuel parameters. Scheduled activities may be canceled, if conditions warrant. Updates including cancellations, additions and corrections will be added to this post.

The following projects are being considered and are in the planning phase:

Huron Zone

Huron Shores Ranger District
Au Sable Twp. Iosco County
🔥Oscoda High School Fuel Break 3 (65 Acres); South of East River and west of Kennedy Roads, southwest of Oscoda High School; Kennedy Road access to Ve and ORV Trail temporarily impacted by operations.
🔥Oscoda High School Fuel Break 4 (6 Acres); South of East River Road and west Oscoda High School.
🔥Oscoda High School Fuel Break 5 (20 Acres); Parallel to the south side of East River and east of Mead Roads.

Mio Ranger District:
Big Creek Twp., Oscoda Co.
🔥Meridian North (62 Acres); South of M-72 and east of Meridian Road.
🔥Meridian South (70 Acres); North of Markle and east of Meridian Roads.
🔥Mio Prairie (520 Acres); Between Briggs and Valley Roads and Mapes and Howard Roads.

Manistee Zone

Baldwin/White Cloud Ranger District
Yates Twp., Lake County
🔥Chase Block 6 (216 Acres); South of 88th Street, between S. Queens and Kings Hwys. FR5099 and FR6191 will be impacted by temporary operations.
🔥Idlewild Fuels Unit 5 (113 Acres); South of E. 76th Street and east of S. Forman Road.
🔥Idlewild Fuels Unit 7 (197 Acres); South of 72nd Street and west of Broadway Road.

Cadillac/Manistee Ranger District
Elk Twp., Lake County
🔥Brooks 286 (286 Acres); West of North Brooks and south of West 10 1/2 Mile Roads.

Norman Twp., Manistee County
🔥Udell Prairie (431 Acres); South of Steinberg and between Udell Hills and Gunn Roads, north of West Pine Lake Road. FR8711 will be impacted by temporary operations.

To see a map or a complete list of operations go to Inciweb here: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mihmf-2026-huronmanistee-nfs-springsummer-prescribed-fire-season

04/27/2026

Heads Up Northern Michigan Folks:
Burn permits for Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie,
Kalkaska and Manistee are CLOSED, NO Open Burning Permitted.

04/25/2026

Important safety information for anyone considering recreation on the Pine River this weekend. https://www.facebook.com/share/18dcmzwR3F/

‼🛶DANGEROUS LOGJAM ON PINE RIVER🛶‼

The Huron-Manistee National Forests is strongly cautioning anglers and paddlers to consider not navigating the waters of the Pine River this weekend.

A massive logjam between Peterson's Bridge and Low Bridge River Accesses has made navigation dangerous in the swift moving waters.

Logjams were also reported at Dobson Bridge upstream from Peterson's Bridge.

Logjams also pose additional risks to river recreation users.

📢Water passing through logjams traps solid objects, posing higher drowning risks for kayakers and canoers.
📢Redirect water flow, often causing intense erosion on stream banks, which can lead to unstable banks.
📢Accumulated debris can block bridges and culverts, triggering severe flooding, forcing water onto roads sometimes causing them to fail.
📢Portage can become difficult or impossible.
📢Flow of water can be at a higher velocity.
📢Potential to have watercraft puncture by submersed debris.
📢Surfaces with heavy silt or sand can be water saturated and react like quicksand.

Read more: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/huron-manistee/newsroom/releases/forest-service-takes-emergency-action-ahead-trout-opener

Play it safe on the opening day of Trout Season 2026. Make that tale about the one that got away the most eventful story of opening day.

04/23/2026

Here in Manistee County right now, the Huron-Manistee National Forest is under a "Use Extreme Caution" advisory. Burn permits are suspended across much of the Lower Peninsula. Roads and trails are washed out from historic rainfall. And the fine fuels are drying by the hour. That's not a contradiction — that's the compound-hazard reality facing rural fire services from Northern Michigan to the Pacific Northwest to post-Helene Carolinas. New in Behind The Alarm: why access matters more than weather, and what chiefs, property owners, and recreational users should be doing right now. 👇
https://tinyurl.com/4jyszth4

The Access Problem in a Compound-Hazard Spring

04/23/2026

🔥 FIRE SAFETY ADVISORY — Stronach Township & Manistee Area
Folks, we've got a situation that deserves your attention. Fine fuels — pine needles, grasses, leaf litter — are drying fast even while low ground is still saturated from the recent historic rainfall. That combination is exactly how spring wildfires get started and get out ahead of us.
🚫 Burn Permits
The Michigan DNR is not issuing burn permits across much of the northern Lower Peninsula right now. Before you strike a match, check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit or the Great Lakes Fire & Fuels map at glff.mesowest.org. If it says NO for your township, no burn. Debris burning causes about 27% of Michigan wildfires — and 90% of all wildfires in this state are human-caused. Michigan Department of Natural Resources We can prevent nearly all of them.
⚠️ Forest Lands & Trail Access
The Huron-Manistee National Forests remain under a "USE EXTREME CAUTION – KNOW BEFORE YOU GO" alert following historic rainfall. Right here in Manistee County:

Manistee River Trail System is CLOSED due to trail damage and unsafe riverbank conditions.
High Bridge Road from Chicago Ave to River Rd (Dickson Township) is closed due to structural erosion.
A section of the North Country Trail between Chicago Ave and River Rd is closed indefinitely from washouts.
Bear Creek, Rainbow Bend, and Government Landing river access sites are inaccessible. FSR 8130 to the Upper Manistee River Backcountry Campsites is closed due to washout. USDA

Why this matters from the fire side: access cuts both ways. If a wildfire starts in an area with washed-out roads and compromised bridges, apparatus and mutual aid will struggle to get in — and more importantly, you may struggle to get out. Know your route before you head into the forest.
✅ What You Can Do Today

No open burning unless the DNR map shows YES for your township.
Campfires: drown, stir, and feel cold with the back of your hand. If it's warm, it isn't out.
ORV and UTV riders: hot exhaust, dragging chains, and parking on dry grass all start fires. Keep hot metal off dry vegetation.
Equipment operators — spark arrestors in place and working, water on board.
See smoke? See fire? Call 911 immediately. Don't assume someone else already did.

Fire doesn't wait for a good day. Protect yourselves, protect your neighbors, and let's keep our woods and our community safe.
— Chief Fred R. LaPoint
Stronach Township Fire Department
Sources: Michigan DNR Fire Alerts • Huron-Manistee National Forests / U.S. Forest Service • Great Lakes Fire & Fuels (glff.mesowest.org)

04/22/2026

🚨 AFTER THE FLOOD: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe
Flooding doesn't end when the water recedes. The cleanup phase can be just as dangerous — mold, contaminated water, carbon monoxide poisoning, and compromised septic systems all pose serious health risks.
The Michigan Health Alert Network has published resources to help our community stay safe:
🏠 Reentering Your Home
Don't go back in until it's been declared safe. Watch for structural damage, electrical hazards, and standing water.
🔗 https://www.cdc.gov/floods/safety/reentering-your-flooded-home-safety.html
🧫 Mold Cleanup
Mold can begin growing within 24–48 hours. Proper cleanup matters.
🔗https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Folder2/Folder96/Folder1/Folder196/STEPS_FOR_CLEANING_MOLD_-_WEB_MDCH.pdf
💧 Private Wells — Test Before You Drink
If you're on a private well, do NOT drink the water until it has been tested. Floodwater can contaminate your supply.
🔗 MDHHS Well Testing: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/topics/care-for-mi-drinking-water/5-tips
🔗 EGLE Emergency Water Supply Guide:https://www.michigan.gov/egle/-/media/Project/Websites/egle/Documents/Programs/DWEHD/Water-Well-Construction/Protecting-Your-Private-Water-Supply-in-an-Emergency.pdf
🚽 Septic Systems
Flooded septic systems can back up and spread disease. Know the signs before you use yours.
🔗 https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/septic-systems-what-do-after-flood
⚠️ CARBON MONOXIDE — THE SILENT KILLER
Every year people die running generators, pumps, and pressure washers indoors or in garages during flood cleanup. NEVER run a generator inside your home, garage, or any enclosed space. CO has no smell. It kills fast.
🔗 CO Poisoning Factsheet:https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Safety-and-Injury-Prevention/Environmental-Health/MiTracking/Documents/CO_Poisoning_Fact_Sheet.pdf
🔗 Portable Generator Safety:https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Folder1/Folder71/GENERATORS.pdf
🔗 CDC Generator Safety (multiple languages): https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/factsheets/generator-safety-fact-sheet.html
🔗 CDC CO Factsheet (multiple languages): https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/factsheets/co-poisoning-fact-sheet.html
🔗 MDHHS CO Info: https://www.michigan.gov/en/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/topics/carbonmonoxide
📦 Full Spring Climate & Health Resource Packet (social media graphics, flood safety, and CO messaging included)
🔗https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Safety-and-Injury-Prevention/Environmental-Health/Climate/Documents/MICHAP-Spring-Resource-Packet.pdf
📄 Staying Safe After a Flood also available in Arabic and Spanish:
🔗 English:https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Safety-and-Injury-Prevention/Environmental-Health/Climate/Documents/After_a_Flood.pdf
🔗 Arabic:https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Safety-and-Injury-Prevention/Environmental-Health/Climate/Documents/After_a_Flood_Arabic.pdf
🔗 Spanish:https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Safety-and-Injury-Prevention/Environmental-Health/Climate/Documents/After_a_Flood_Spanish.pdf
From your neighbors at Stronach Township Fire Department — stay safe out there.

04/20/2026

FLASH FLOOD ALERT UPDATE FOR PEOPLE in Manistee County Below Tippy Dam***
We just received notification from Manistee Central Dispatch, that TIppy Dam is no longer under a Condition C status and the water levels behind the dam are continuing to decline. Thanks.