NEWBERRY, Mich. - Homes and cabins make up a third of the nearly 100 structures destroyed by a wildfire burning across more than 30 square miles of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, officials said Monday.
The lost property includes Pike Lake Resort near Pike Lake in Luce County. “I was still hoping that they would stop it,’’ owner Diane Ricketts said of the fire. “With my husband gone, I’m not going to rebuild.’’
The Duck Lake Fire began with a lightning strike last week and burned more than 22,000 acres, or 34 square miles, but was 51 percent contained by Monday, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
Parts of Michigan are extremely dry and thirsty for rain. Fireworks and outdoor burning are banned in 49 of the state’s 83 counties.
The natural resources agency said 95 structures were destroyed, including 34 homes or cabins, but no injuries were reported.