As we welcome these summer traditions, Air Quality Awareness Week – May 3-7 this year – reminds us to keep campfires safe and clean by carefully choosing what they’re made from. In a crowded environment like a campground or neighborhood, making fires out of the right materials is especially important for protecting the health and safety of yourself and those around you.

To start, build a campfire out of the driest, most well-seasoned wood you can find. Get it locally to avoid spreading invasive insects and tree diseases, and make sure to burn it all before you leave for another location. Dry wood produces the least amount of irritating smoke, meaning you’ll spend less time repositioning around the fire ring chanting a version of “I hate white rabbits” in an attempt to ward off those pesky clouds.

Natural materials like wood, brush and branches can be burned. However, avoid burning treated wood, which often can be identified by a manufacturer’s stamp and a greenish color. Treated wood releases arsenic or other chemicals in the air when burned.

Likewise, don’t toss trash, plastic food wrappers, foam cups or hazardous materials in your campfire – it’s illegal, not to mention stinky and unhealthy. If you plan to cook a s’mores or other foods over the fire, it’s worth the extra effort to properly dispose of trash to keep the air clean and keep a bad taste out of your mouth.

Use the Michigan Recycling Directory to learn where to recycle difficult-to-dispose materials.

Get fire safety information at Michigan.gov/PreventWildfires and learn about air quality at Michigan.gov/OpenBurning.

Questions? Contact Paul Rogers at 616-260-8406.

May 4, International Firefighters’ Day (aka Firefighter Appreciation Day), recognizes the courage of firefighters and remembers those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Fallen firefighters in Michigan are honored at the Fireman’s Memorial in Roscommon.

When a wildfire is reported, DNR firefighters spring into action, heading toward the danger with water trucks, bulldozers, fire-detection aircraft and hand equipment. They respond to hundreds of wildfires every year on public and private lands, working to keep people safe and to protect homes, businesses and nature.

“Being a wildland firefighter isn’t just a job,” said DNR state fire supervisor Dan Laux. “Our team is passionate about what they do.”

DNR firefighters help local fire departments in the field and provide aid to other states in need, sharpening their skills and giving crews essential relief, as they did during last year’s historic western fire season. So far this year, DNR firefighters have responded to 159 wildfires, which have burned 1,440 acres in Michigan.

The job is much more complex and demanding than just putting out fires.

DNR firefighters also conduct prescribed burns: intentionally set fires that are carefully managed to improve wildlife habitat and remove invasive species. In 2019, they conducted 92 burns on almost 9,000 acres of land. Firefighters are responsible for helping maintain the state’s forest road system, keeping their equipment in tip-top shape, assisting with forest cultivation work and sharing fire-prevention education with schools and communities.

Many firefighters are part of specially trained incident management teams that respond to nearly any type of emergency. Recently, they’ve assisted with recovery from the historic floods in Houghton and Midland counties, helped establish a medical site for the 2021 presidential inauguration and performed site logistics for COVID-19 care and vaccination locations in southeast Michigan.

Interested in training to become a DNR firefighter? Connect with a fire officer in your area to learn about opportunities.

Dumping old mattresses, tires or televisions or even throwing your bag of fast food out the window while driving is illegal – and something DNR conservation officers take very seriously.

“Spring is always a really busy time for conservation officers receiving complaints about illegal dumping,” said Lt. Gerald Thayer, the DNR’s district law supervisor in Plainwell. “People don’t want to pay to get rid of their old belongings or garbage pickup, and think they’ll get away with leaving it in a rural area. There are all kinds of ways conservation officers can track garbage – whether it’s a piece of mail, a receipt or a barcode.”

You can dispose of discarded items and garbage at your local landfill or trash and recycling drop-off center or find disposal sites in your area. Some communities offer a free spring cleanup – check with your local township. When hiring a waste hauler, ask for landfill receipts to ensure trash is being disposed of responsibly.

If you come across discarded items or garbage on state-managed public land, immediately call or text the Report All Poaching hotline at 1-800-292-7800.

Questions? Contact Lt. Gerald Thayer at ThayerG@Michigan.gov.