Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

ISHPEMING -- It's that time of the year when the DNR and firefighters across the U.P. start looking at this spring's fire risks.

The DNR and firefighters from all over the U.P. met Tuesday to discuss the upcoming fire season. And according to the National Weather Service and the DNR, fires could be a concern for this early spring.

"Surely we have not received enough precipitation over the winter to accommodate what we usually are going into the spring fire season with. And so it's of great concern to us that the water just isn't there," said DNR Manager Celeste Chingwa.

The DNR is most concerned about the mild winter we've had this year. Because there wasn't a lot of snow, there isn't a lot of moisture in the ground, and that makes it easier for a fire to get started. The most dangerous areas are dry grasslands and areas that are filled with jack pine trees because fires can quickly spread through them.

And the dry spring could result in other types of fires.

"As it does get drier, you also have railroad fires and stuff that you normally wouldn't have, and those are always a big concern for us. A train can go a long ways and set a lot of fires, and they're usually in remote areas that are tough to get to," said Fire Officer Gary Wellman.

The DNR and firefighters also discussed the continuing decrease of fire officer positions throughout the state. With the decrease in officers, that means fire departments across the U.P. will have to work together if there ever is a large fire.