Michigan officials confirmed that lightning caused two of three fires burning in the Upper Peninsula's Rugged Terrain Complex. The Black River Fire and Craig Lake Fire were both started by lightning strikes, while the cause of the Ridge Fire remains under investigation, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said.
The Black River Fire is 70% contained, and the Craig Lake Fire has reached 90% containment. The Ridge Fire is 50% contained and covers approximately 466 acres, located about 10 miles northwest of Marquette, north of the Dead River Basin.
Investigators traced the Black River Fire's origin by analyzing charring patterns on cedar trees and cross-checking them against lightning strike maps. "The way an individual leaf curls or 'freezes' in the heat, the direction the grass stems fall or the angle of char on tree trunks can lead us back to where the fire started," said Deputy Incident Commander Jennifer Hansen. "We study these details to help determine the cause."
Craig Lake State Park and the area north of Craig Lake, including the Teddy Lake Yurt, are closed through the end of October due to ongoing fire suppression operations. The Noquemanon Trail system west of the County Road 510 trailhead also remains closed. Residents along North Basin Drive are under "Ready" status and should remain prepared in case conditions change.