By Christopher Johnson
A brushfire broke out near the corner of James Hill Ranch and Adams Rd this past Tuesday. The blaze, which seemed threatening at first, was swiftly contained by fire crews in under an hour after getting away from a homeowner who was burning on their property.
Several motorists passing over the hilltop on Tuesday took to social media to say the rising smoke was alarming enough that they nearly reached for their phones. Until they spotted emergency lights already on the scene or approaching the scene.
The fire burned less than an acre before crews brought it under control, according to Clare Fire Department Chief, Sam Eberhart. Crews used approximately 2,000 gallons of water to extinguish the flames and wet down surrounding areas to prevent flare-ups.
“It was just a typical spring brush fire,” says Sam. “It got away from the homeowner a little bit and burned a little less than an acre. Crews were able to get it put out in a little under an hour.”
The fire started in a backyard and spread beyond the tree line, along the roadside bluff. Burning was permitted at the time, but a combination of dry brush, favorable winds and low humidity allowed the flames to travel faster than one person could manage.
“People don’t realize how hard it is to try to contain a fire like this when you’re by yourself”, Sam adds. “It can spread pretty fast.”
The response included one engine, two water tenders carrying a combined 4,000 gallons of water, and grass units equipped to navigate off-road terrain through the trees. The engine was on standby in case any structures became threatened.
Traffic was backed up for a duration, prompting some direction from CFD amidst the firefighting process. Within the hour, frustrations thinned out and both directions resumed as normal.
Luckily, the fire stayed on the homeowner’s property and caused no structural damage. According to Sam, a controlled burn can benefit the land.
“It didn’t hurt anything,” he says. “It burned a little bit of ground, and that’ll actually help. It greens things back up and cleans up all that debris.”
With spring green-up underway and recent rainfall, the chief says the grass fire season is winding down. The bigger concern now is wooded areas where leaves and debris haven’t yet greened up. Which poses a risk compounded by deep freezes this past winter.
“The latest ice storm didn’t help,” Sam reminds. “It brought down a lot of stuff, and that debris has had all winter to dry. But this wet weather we’ve had, it’s all changing fast. Luckily the grass fire season was pretty short here.”
Officials say accidental fires like this are common each spring. They stress homeowners to remain attentive to the weather when burning, and to do so responsibly. The fire department also urges residents not to hesitate before calling for help.
“Call as soon as you can. The sooner we can get there, we can stop it.”
According to Michigan.gov, Spring is Michigan’s most active period for wildfires. With the stretch from March through June accounting for more than 80% of fires statewide each year. Dead vegetation left over from winter, combined with low humidity and gusty winds, sets the stage for rapid fire spread. Debris burning is the leading cause, and residents are encouraged to check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit or contact local authorities before burning.
