Wildfire prevention tips

Paul Rogers, a DNR wildfire prevention specialist, offered the following tips for wildfire prevention:

Be careful even with lawn-mowing.

“A lot of yards are h drying right up, but there are still weeds that grow,” Rogers said. “There is a weed called buckthorn, a lot of people like to mow that down. Well, if your grass is completely dead, all it takes is a spark from that lawnmower blade when it hits a stone, and that will start a fire.”

Use extreme caution with campfires, cook fires. Those h fires aren’t recommended — it was a campfire on private land that got out of control and caused last weekend’s wildfire. If you must have a campfire, have a water source, rake and shovel nearby. Never leave the fire unattended, even for a minute. Avoid fires during windy conditions. Douse a finished fire with water, stir the ashes and douse it again, being sure to significantly wet the fire ring.

Hit the trails responsibly. ATV, UTV and motorcycle users h should make sure their spark arrestors are in good, working condition, Rogers said.

Prepare your cabin or cottage.

Clean yard waste well away h from homes. Make sure leaves and pine needles are off the roof. Don’t stack firewood or other flammable materials close to the home. Trim tree branches up 8 to 9 feet, so that fire can’t travel up trees as easily. And have a water supply at the ready, such as a garden hose.

Call for help.

If a fire is getting away from you, don’t h hesitate to call 911 and get emergency responders on the way, Rogers said. Prompt response is the biggest key to stopping a wildfire from becoming large once it has started.

For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr/education/safety-info/fire.