Wisconsin DNR Sends Equipment, Manpower to Fight Duck Lake Fire
DATE: May 30, 2012
| CONTACT | Ron Gropp, Waupaca area forestry leader (715) 281-6253 Trish Ossmann, public affairs manager (920) 662-5122 |
MADISON, Wis. – A massive fire burning in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources staff called to duty.
According to the Michigan DNR, as of today the Duck Lake Fire has consumed 21,450 acres and is 55 percent contained. The fire destroyed 115 structures to date, including one motel and a store. There are 237 personnel from numerous fire departments and other agencies working this fire along 40 miles of fire line.
Eight staff members from Wisconsin DNR are on scene with equipment to help in fire suppression efforts. Current Wisconsin DNR resources include:
- (2) Heavy units (a Type 4 engine which carries 850 gallons of water pulling a John Deere 450 bulldozer/tractor-plow) plus two operators.
- (2) Type 6 engines (a four-wheel drive truck which carries a tank with a 140 gallon capacity for water) plus two operators.
- (2) Division Supervisors and (1) trainee. Division Supervisors oversee operations within specific boundaries of fire territory. They lay out tactical plans and oversee response along the fire line. Division Supervisors report directly to the Incident Commander. The trainee will follow a Division Supervisor for a period of time and then will begin assuming leadership in order to become certified as a Division Supervisor.
- (1) Strike Team Leader. A Strike Team Leader is in charge of three or more resources of similar nature, like heavy units or fire trucks, to make sure they are implementing the tactics approved by Incident Command.
Resources of staff and equipment are allocated to this fire through the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact which is comprised of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Manitoba and Ontario, Canada.
Wisconsin DNR is in the process right now of sending new people to the Duck Lake Fire to replace staff who have been on scene for several days.