FOREST FIRES-BUDGE LANSING, MICH. (AP) (wgvu) - A MASSIVE WILDFIRE IN THE EASTERN UPPER
PENINSULA IS BURNING UP MORE THAN A GOOD-SIZED CHUNK OF THE LAKE
SUPERIOR STATE FOREST.
IT'S ALSO CONSUMING A MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
FIREFIGHTING BUDGET THAT WAS IN BAD SHAPE EVEN BEFORE THIS MONTH'S
BLAZE.
THE SLEEPER LAKE FIRE IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN STATE HISTORY.
IT'S ALREADY HAS COST MORE THAN $3 MILLION TO FIGHT AND THE DNR
LIKELY WILL NEED AN EXTRA APPROPRIATION FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE
TO PAY THE FINAL BILLS.
THE BLAZE HAS CONSUMED HUGE AMOUNTS OF RESOURCES, LEAVING THE
DNR ONLY SKELETON CREWS TO DEAL WITH A HALF-DOZEN LESS SERIOUS
WILDFIRES BURNING IN THE UPPER PENINSULA LAST WEEK.
THE STATE HAS PULLED EMPLOYEES FROM ITS TIMBER HARVESTING
PROGRAM TO HELP BATTLE THE SLEEPER LAKE WILDFIRE CENTERED ABOUT SIX
MILES NORTH OF NEWBERRY.

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