Red Flag Warning Issued for Ontonagon, Gogebic Counties

A Red Flag Warning has been issued for Ontonagon and Gogebic counties, effective immediately until Sunday, October 11, at 6:00 PM EDT. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Marquette, MI, has issued this warning due to critical fire weather conditions.

Residents are urged to avoid all outdoor burning during this period. Any fire that develops will spread rapidly and pose a significant danger. The affected areas are Fire Weather Zone 002 Ontonagon and Fire Weather Zone 009 Gogebic.

Strong winds from the south, between 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, are expected to diminish to 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph tonight into Sunday. Relative humidity will drop as low as 31 percent this afternoon and between 30 to 40 percent on Sunday. These conditions, combined with exceptionally dry fuels, create a high risk of wildland fires.

Extreme caution is advised with potential ignition sources. This includes campfires, outdoor grills, smoking materials, fireworks, chain saws, and all-terrain vehicles. These items can throw sparks and ignite dangerous and destructive fires.