DNR, local fire crews battle wildfire in Presque Isle County

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DNR News

May 10, 2026

Contact: Laurie Abel, 517-599-6703

DNR, local fire crews battle wildfire in Presque Isle County

Plumes of smoke rise over green land and a flooding area during a fire May 10 in Presque Isle County.

Firefighters from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and local fire departments attacked a wildfire late Sunday in Presque Isle County near the southeast end of the Tomahawk Creek Flooding.

The fire covered approximately 180 acres around 8:30 p.m., said Laurie Abel, public information officer for the DNR’s Incident Management Team.

“The fire is burning in jack pine, hardwood and a blueberry bog,” she said. The cause of the fire hasn’t yet been identified.

A single vehicle that got stuck on a forest road was burned; its occupants were able to get away from the vehicle and are safe.

Traffic restrictions remain in place along Spring Lake, Anderson and Millersburg roads as emergency crews manage the area and monitor fire activity.

At this time, no evacuations have been made, and no homes or structures are considered at risk. Firefighters have achieved approximately 60% containment as suppression efforts continue throughout the night and into Monday.

Equipment in use Sunday included four Air Boss water-scooping planes, an Air Attack plane which coordinates air activity, and DNR fire detection aircraft.

The Legislature allocated one-time funding for the DNR to lease two AT 802 water scooping planes to help fight fires. Downed wood in the northern Lower Peninsula from the March 2025 ice storm has created an increased fire risk this spring. Weather has been windy and dry for the past several days, contributing to fire risk.


Note to editors: A high-resolution version of the photo is available. Caption follows.

Aerial fire: Plumes of smoke rise near the Tomahawk Creek Flooding in Presque Isle County Sunday night. DNR and other fire crews battled the 180-acre fire; its cause is as yet undetermined. 


The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/DNR.