Impact of Tuition-free Higher Education Programs

by Becky Andrus | Mar 24, 2022 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 24, 2022

Gov. Whitmer Highlights Impact of Tuition-free Higher Education Programs in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties

LANSING, MICH. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (LEO) are celebrating the transformative impact the Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners programs have on the governor’s goal of making sure every Michigander has a path to a high wage job. These historic programs help make college degrees and skill certificates available and affordable for more residents.

“Our goal is to build a Michigan where every Michigander is equipped with the education and skills they need to get a good-paying job and the Michigan Reconnect students at Macomb Community College, Oakland Community College and Wayne County Community College District are on their way to high-demand high-wage jobs,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Whether it’s a registered apprenticeship, an industry-recognized certification, a technical certificate, an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree or beyond, higher education or skills training opens so many doors. Bipartisan programs like Michigan Reconnect are putting us on track to achieve our ambitious but attainable goal to reach 60% of our workforce with a postsecondary credential by 2030. Let’s stay focused on empowering and uplifting our people.”

Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners are among the tools the state is using to achieve Governor Whitmer’s Sixty by 30 goal, which aims to prepare Michiganders for in-demand jobs and bigger paychecks by increasing the number of adults with a postsecondary degree or credential to 60% by 2030. In the past year alone, over 170,000 Michiganders applied for scholarships through Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners, two programs she created to put people on tuition-free paths to better-paying jobs.

The Sixty by 30 goal seeks to build a better Michigan in three ways:

Close the skills gap that poses the single greatest threat to the success of our businesses and our state’s prosperity. Jobs requiring skilled employees today, as well as jobs on the horizon, demand greater education and training than ever before. Increasingly, the best jobs require more than a high school diploma.
Increase opportunity and Michiganders greater access to the education and skills that create opportunities for better jobs and bigger paychecks.
Make Michigan more competitive for inclusive economic growth.

To better showcase the impact across the state, LEO has launched an online map detailing Michigan Reconnect application data searchable by county.

Studies show an education beyond high school opens the door to economic opportunity, financial security and social mobility, with average annual earnings of $7,500 more for those with a two-year degree compared with only a high school diploma.

According to a recent report of long-term employment projections from the state’s Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, nearly 530,000 jobs in high-demand, high-wage professional trades fields alone will be available in the state through 2028. It is estimated that nearly 50% of those jobs will require postsecondary education.

“Our Sixty by 30 efforts are working,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “More Michiganders are earning, or within reach of earning, a college degree or skills certificate thanks to efforts like Michigan Reconnect. We are creating new paths for fulfilling careers for our workers and opportunities for our Michigan businesses to fill critical talent needs so they can continue to compete, grow and innovate.”

The three community colleges illustrate how the programs are affecting the makeup of populations, certificates or degrees awarded and enrollment at their institutions.

Michigan Reconnect	% of Student Population Participating in Program	No. of Participants Graduated With a Certificate or Degree	No. of Participants Enrolled for the First Time at Institution
Macomb Community College	8.3%	128	715
Oakland Community College	4.9%	24	398
Wayne County Community College District	8%	26	231

Futures for Frontliners	% of Student Population Participating in Program	No. of Participants Graduated With a Certificate or Degree	No. of Participants Enrolled for the First Time at Institution
Macomb Community College	10%	401	752
Oakland Community College	5%	86	463
Wayne County Community College District	10%	29	176

OCC also reported that its Frontliners and Reconnect scholarship students had a higher average GPA compared to other students.

“Programs like Futures for Frontliners and Michigan Reconnect provide a great way for Oakland County residents to come to OCC to improve their job opportunities for in-demand careers and increase their earnings potential while getting free in-district tuition,” said OCC Chancellor Peter Provenzano, Jr.

“Community colleges are a critical talent pipeline in today’s economy,” said Macomb President Dr. James Sawyer. “Removing financial barriers to attending community college means connecting more residents to workplace opportunity and increasing the development of talent to meet business demand today and in the future.”

“We strive to empower people, businesses and communities through higher education and career advancement,” said WCCD Chancellor Dr. Curtis L. Ivery. “We do that by providing accessible, culturally diverse and globally competitive programs and services. We’re proud to work with our state and community partners through Michigan Reconnect and other efforts because nothing brings success like gaining the knowledge and skills that will ultimately lead to rewarding careers.”

The state’s Sixty by 30 efforts are creating rewarding paths to those high-wage, high-demand careers. Students have used the tuition-free programs to earn degrees or certificates in fields like accounting, business administration, cardiac sonography, computer support, line worker pre-apprenticeship, medical assistant and practical nursing.

Michigan Reconnect is the largest effort in state history to ensure that Michiganders who are 25 or older and do not have a college degree will have an opportunity to earn an associate degree or skills certificate with free or deeply discounted tuition.

Since the program’s launch in February 2021, nearly 93,000 state residents have been accepted into the program. In its first two semesters, Summer and Fall 2021, nearly 13,000 scholarship participants enrolled in courses leading to a degree or skills certificate program.

Michigan Reconnect pays the cost of in-district tuition for eligible adults who want to pursue an associate degree or skills certificate at any of Michigan’s public community colleges, including its three tribal colleges.

The state’s network of Michigan Reconnect Navigators is actively working with nearly 15,000 Michigan Reconnect applicants to guide them on their path to a college degree or skills certificate, including applying for federal student aid, setting career goals, selecting a program of study, registering for classes and creating a graduation plan.

The first program of its kind in the nation, Futures for Frontliners offered free in-district tuition to community college for Michiganders, with or without high school diplomas, who provided essential frontline services during COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Safe orders between April and June 2020. While the application period for Futures for Frontliners closed in December 2020, more than 28,000 Frontliners initiated their participation in the scholarship program in 2021.

DNR News Digest – Week of March 21, 2022

by Becky Andrus | Mar 23, 2022 | Recreation

News Digest – Week of March 21, 2022

young boy wearing gray T-shirt and helmet rides a neon green bike toward camera on paved, tree-lined trail, two kids farther behind him

Find your next great trail adventure at Michigan.gov/DNRTrails!

This week’s stories may reflect how the Department of Natural Resources has adapted to meet customer needs and protect public health and safety. Follow our COVID-19 response page for updates on access to facilities and programs.

We’ll continue to share news and information about the best ways to discover and enjoy Michigan’s natural and heritage resources! Here’s a look at some of this week’s stories:

See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom.

PHOTO FOLDER: Larger, higher-res versions of the images used below, and others, are available in this folder.

Photo ambassador snapshot: Silver Lake sunset

dark, gray waves with white foam roll toward brown, sandy shore, against backdrop of an orange, blue and tan sunset sky, with thin gray clouds Want to see more pictures like this, taken by Michigan state parks photo ambassador Sarah Goodwin at Silver Lake State Park in Oceana County? Visit Instagram.com/MiStateParks to explore photos and learn more about the photo ambassadors! For more on the photo ambassador program, call Stephanie Yancer at 989-274-6182.

Love our lakes? Help monitor water quality, fish habitat

a smiling young woman with shoulder-length light brown hair and a wide-brimmed brown hat holds a small plastic bottle and pencil, water in background

If your summer plans include time at your favorite lake, there’s an easy and rewarding way to show your lake some love: help the MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program gather valuable information about water quality and fish habitat conditions.

The program is seeking volunteers who enjoy and want to help protect Michigan’s 11,000 inland lakes. Though there is still a lot we don’t know about many of our lakes, volunteering with MiCorps will connect you with a statewide network of people who are making a positive impact on these waters.

As a water monitor volunteer, you:

Choose which lake to sample.
Select which measurements to take. You can collect data on water quality (water clarity, nutrients, dissolved oxygen and algae), invasive species, native plants and shoreline conditions.
Will get detailed instructions, training and equipment.

There is a small fee to cover the costs of supplies and analyzing samples; volunteers often are able to collaborate with lake associations or other organizations to help pay for these costs.

All volunteer-gathered information is added to the MiCorps Data Exchange, a public database that includes Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program lake data back to 1974. This database is used by people, local communities and state agencies like the DNR to better protect and manage Michigan’s beautiful lakes and the fish and wildlife that live there.

Want to help?

Visit the CLMP enrollment webpage or contact Erick Elgin with Michigan State University Extension for more information.

The MiCorps Clean Lakes Monitoring Program is sponsored by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and is administered in partnership with MSU Extension, the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association and the Huron River Watershed Council.

Questions? Contact Joe Nohner (DNR), 517-599-6825 or Erick Elgin (MSU Extension), 231-928-1053.

DNR website has a new look

screenshot of new Michigan DNR website, dark blue header and downtown park photo at top, then hunt, fish, camp and boat icons

If you haven’t visited the DNR website recently, things will look a bit different next time you’re there: a new look, with different colors and page formats, that’s all a part of the state of Michigan’s effort to build a more unified brand. Our new site went live Friday evening.

Though the look and feel are different, some things will stay the same:

The navigation should look familiar, and you should be able to find things the way you did before.
You can still search for events, but the options are now more robust and include the ability to search by event type, location and date range.
Shortcuts to your favorite pages (those easier-to-remember website addresses like Michigan.gov/Fishing and Michigan.gov/Hunting) will still work and should go to their correct pages. However, with a total site overhaul there are bound to be some broken links. We are working to correct those over time.

Once you’ve had a chance to check out the new website, we’d love to hear what you think. Your feedback via this brief survey will ensure we continue to improve the website for all users. If you can take a few moments to complete it, thank you!

ICYMI: Thursday webinar on Clean Boats, Clean Water grants

side view of three people on a fishing boat in the middle of a sunlit lake, framed by green trees and plants in the foreground

If you’re looking for resources to help your community protect a local body of water from invasive species, mark your calendar for 9-10 a.m. Thursday, March 24. In case you missed it, the latest installment in the state of Michigan’s NotMiSpecies webinar series focuses on the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program, which provides grants between $1,000 and $3,000 for groups that want to prevent aquatic invasive species through increased boater education and awareness.

Kelsey Bockelman and Paige Filice from MSU Extension and Kevin Walters from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will reveal 2022 Clean Boats, Clean Waters grant recipients, share information on past projects and help your group prepare to apply for a grant in 2023.

Questions? Contact Joanne Foreman at 517-284-5814.

Weigh in on state land review recommendations by May 11

Tall, thin trees with mostly green leaves, some orange and yellow leaves, fill up the screen, with sunlight streaming through

Staff recommendations on whether to keep, exchange or sell state-managed land in 10 counties are nearing DNR director approval, but there’s still plenty of time to review and share feedback.

The counties in this stage of the DNR’s ongoing state land review process include Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Lapeer, Lenawee, Marquette, Monroe, Roscommon, Sanilac and Washtenaw. The updated, interactive web map reflects the latest staff recommendations since the initial public comment period closed, making it easy for people to see what has changed. The state land review was implemented as part of the 2013 Managed Public Land Strategy and involves the review of DNR-managed lands that are 200 acres or less in size or that, due to an irregular boundary, may be difficult to manage.

“This county-by-county review process gives us the opportunity to evaluate and make decisions about how well the current land portfolio supports our mission of protecting natural resources while providing broad public access to quality outdoor recreation opportunities,” said DNR forest land administrator Kerry Heckman. “It’s critical that people who enjoy and use these lands are part of the discussion, and we appreciate everyone who has taken the time to get involved so far.”

Comments left on the interactive web map or emailed to DNR-StateLandReview@Michigan.gov by May 11 will be compiled and provided to the DNR director. A final decision on recommendations is expected at the May 12 meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission.

Follow the latest updates on the state land review process at Michigan.gov/PublicLands.

Questions? Contact Kerry Heckman at [email protected].

THINGS TO DO

Learn from the pros at the April 9 walleye clinic offered by the DNR Outdoor Skills Academy. These classes usually fill up fast, so don’t wait to register.

BUY & APPLY

Renewing your vehicle’s license plate soon? Remember to “check YES” for the Recreation Passport; it’s your key to year-round access to outdoor fun.

GET INVOLVED

Help monitor the state’s osprey population, find our biggest trees, report invasive species … there are lots of ways to support community science projects!

Grants to Deliver $1,000 Bonuses to Childcare Professionals

by Becky Andrus | Mar 23, 2022 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 22, 2022

Contact: [email protected]

Gov. Whitmer Announces Second Round of Grants to Deliver $1,000 Bonuses to Childcare Professionals, Resources to Childcare Providers

Applications open today for the bipartisan $365 million grant program to support childcare businesses and deliver $1,000 bonuses to thousands of childcare professionals. 

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced the launch of the second round of the Child Care Stabilization Grant program, which will distribute $365 million to give every full-time childcare professional a $1,000 retention bonus and keep childcare programs open and serving kids.

“I remember how valuable any bit of childcare was when my girls were young. Today, I’m fighting to make sure every family has access to quality, affordable childcare that meets their needs,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “That starts with making sure our local childcare businesses can stay open and pay their staff a living wage. I’m proud that we are getting things done for young Michiganders, childcare professionals, and small businesses. With this investment, we will continue growing Michigan’s economy and making our communities stronger.”

“As a father, I know how important childcare is for countless families across Michigan,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist. “That is why it is so important to thank and support the childcare professionals who step up for Michigan communities every day. These stabilization grants are investments that support families and will make our communities stronger. Governor Whitmer and I will continue to work hard to help Michiganders access affordable, high-quality childcare.”

The Child Care Stabilization Grants are available to Michigan’s approximately 8,000 licensed childcare programs. This funding was included in the governor’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget that included game-changing investments in childcare and delivered on the kitchen-table issues that matter most to families, communities, and small business.

In January, nearly 6,000 childcare providers received funding from the first round of Child Care Stabilization grants and 38,000 childcare professionals received bonuses.

These grants saved small businesses and kept families working in every county. The Century Foundation estimates that to date grants from the Child Care Stabilization Fund and other childcare investments from ARPA saved 3,567 childcare programs and 135,795 slots in Michigan.

“I live in a rural area with only three licensed childcare programs. My children are older teens and I’ve thought about closing my daycare because financially I can make more money almost anywhere,” said Jennifer Lundquist, owner of a home-based childcare program in Nashville, Michigan. “With prices rising on everything and so many job options. Receiving this grant allowed me to keep tuition low for families and save money to keep the daycare open, when families in our community have very few options.”

“The childcare grant funds have improved my daycare by allowing me to be able give my employees extra pay that I didn’t have to give to them. It helped me buy more toys and supplies, and fix things in my daycare. It allowed me to do a lot of repairs that needed to be done and helped to provide a safer environment for the children that attend,” said Felicia Caver Davis, owner and operator of Little Bubbles Daycare in Detroit. “This grant helped me out tremendously! And I thank you all so much for the help. I’m looking forward to applying for the next grant so that I can do even more for my daycare!”

“This grant has been so helpful to our center,” said Molly Denman, owner of Wee Folk Child Care Center in Rockford. “It has allowed us to continue to offer health benefits to our staff, a benefit we were planning on cutting to save costs. It has also allowed us to recognize staff that works a physically and emotionally exhausted job. We have been able to make updates and repairs to our building, as well, as purchase materials and supplies in order to continue to provide a developmentally appropriate program.”

Details on First Round Recipients

The Child Care Stabilization Grant is a non-competitive grant awarded to licensed centers, group homes, family homes, and tribal childcare providers to be used to support operational expenses. Nearly all applicants also requested and received funding for $1,000 sign on bonuses to fill staff vacancies.

Total grant awards: 5,890
Average awards:

Family home program: $10,763
Group home program: $20,454
Childcare center: $108,685

Total bonuses awarded:

$1,000 to 24,947 full time staff members
$500 to 13,213 part time staff members

Background

The Child Care Stabilization Grant application is now open. Licensed childcare providers are eligible and should visit Michigan.gov/childcare to confirm eligibility, review frequently asked questions, and apply. The application will be open until May 26, 2022. This is a noncompetitive grant. All eligible applicants will receive funding. Childcare professionals will be awarded bonuses directly from their employer and do not need to apply.

The Child Care Stabilization Grant is part of a $1.4 billion investment to expand access to quality, affordable childcare for Michigan families. To learn more about how these dollars are delivering for Michigan families visit Michigan.gov/childcare.

Did you know? One in three Michigan children are eligible for low or no cost childcare. Families must be working or going to school and meet income requirements to qualify. Visit Michigan.gov/childcare to learn more and apply today.

Clarkston has their new Football Coach

by Becky Andrus | Mar 23, 2022 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Around the OAA.

This is a blog that is devoted to the OAA. We cover 23 schools from Oakland County to Wayne County. From Oxford to Harper Woods. This blog will give insight and projections around the OAA.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Clarkston has their new Football Coach.

Written Wednesday March 23rd at 12:40 AM

Written by Sammy Taormina

The Wolves kept the varsity football coaching job in house.

Clarkston named Justin Pintar as their new varsity football coach on Tuesday night. He replaces Kurt Richardson whom retired after 35 years on the Wolves sideline.

The hire was confirmed by The D-Zone’s Jeff Corriun and retweeted on Twitter by Wolves Athletic Director Jeff Kosin.

Pintar was the offensive line coach under Richardson. He is a teacher at Clarkston High School.

Pintar will have a lot of proven talent coming back in running back Ethan Clark and lineman Cole Dellinger. Also he will have linebackers Nick Waszczenko and Cavanaugh Diton, along with wide receivers Kohl Jarvis and Desman Stephens, and tight end Brady Kosin. The Wolves will have a new quarterback in John Kaul likely taking over the reins this fall.

Richardson said in an interview with MIPrepZone’s Scott Burnstein after he retired that program strength was very strong with Clarkston. The Wolves have a really good freshman class and the rest of the classes aren’t too bad either.

Clarkston opens the season at Davison against the Cardinals. They don’t have a week nine opponent as of yet. The Wolves will be in the Red with Oxford, West Bloomfield, Adams, Stoney Creek, and Lake Orion. They will have non league games against Southfield Arts and Tech and Oak Park.

Pintar is the fourth new coach in the OAA joining Dustyn Truitt (Royal Oak,) Tom Cook (Troy Athens,) and Chris Bell (Lake Orion.)

Thoughts

I really like the Pintar hire. He is a teacher in the school so familiarity is there. The transition should be smooth for the program. I am curious to see what offense Pintar will run if he will keep the RPO (run pass option) offense that has been very successful under Richardson.

The defense will be the question mark for Pintar this upcoming season especially in the secondary.

It will be very interesting to see what happens.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

Here is the Tweet confirming the hire from Corriun.

https://twitter.com/TheD_Zone/status/1506418220722499591

Showcasing the DNR: Prepping for spring fire season

by Becky Andrus | Mar 22, 2022 | Recreation

– Showcasing the DNR –

A wide shows firefighters on a blaze in the Atlanta Forest Management Unit.

Prepping for spring fire season

By KATHLEEN LAVEY
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Look out the window. Depending on where you are in Michigan, you might see tentative green grass, monumental spring mud or a stubborn layer of snow.

In any case, make no mistake: Michigan’s wildland fire season is on.

“Even though there’s snow on the ground in parts of the state now, some local fire departments have already started running wildland fires,” said Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

DNR staffers are shown gathered for instruction at a spring tactics meeting in Munising.

Rogers and other fire-qualified staff in DNR’s Forest Resources Division met last week to discuss the outlook for this season and develop plans to keep Michigan’s people and forests safe from the threat of wildfire. The season generally begins in early spring, ending with winter snowfall.

DNR firefighters and equipment are stationed strategically across the state to protect Michigan’s 20 million acres of forest land, which includes nearly 4 million acres of state forest.

The season generally begins in early spring, with the highest danger in spring and early summer. Risk lessens somewhat as trees “green up,” or bring sap up from their roots, in summer.

Because of Michigan’s wetter climate, the state rarely sees fires as vast or long-lasting as the fires they assist with in western states.

A DNR firefighter uses a drip torch to ignite some brush during a prescribed burn in Delta County.

During 2021, Michigan’s largest fire was the Brittle Fire, about 5,600 acres in the northeastern Lower Peninsula on federal land. Prior to that, the most recent large fire was the Duck Lake Fire that started with a lightning strike in May 2012 north of Newberry in the Upper Peninsula. It burned 21,135 acres in three weeks’ time.

Those large fires are rare and the exception to the DNR’s goal – put out wildland fires as quickly as possible, while they’re still under 10 acres in size.

During 2021, DNR firefighters battled fires on 2,379 acres and conducted prescribed burns on about 5,100 acres. Prescribed burns are carefully planned fires that mimic the effect of natural fire on the landscape. They are used to improve habitat for wildlife and remove invasive species.

Despite mud and snow, prescribed burns are likely to start this month.

DNR firefighters pose for a photo next to a helicopter while on assignment in Manitoba.

In addition, the spring danger of wildland fire from natural or human causes is very real.

“Last year was probably one of the busier springs we’ve had in a long time,” said Jeff Vasher, fire specialist in Roscommon. “It was really dry, and we started really early. Our unit started running fires on March 13 and went into June.”

This year may pose similar challenges.

“We didn’t get a lot of snow this year, and the vegetation from last year is still standing up,” he said. “That makes it rough for us, because when it stands up like that it dries out quicker and it burns a lot faster.”

Even though the ground may be saturated with water, grasses that have been dormant through the winter are dried out and burn quickly.

This means that people need to be very careful and check to see if the DNR is issuing burn permits prior to burning yard waste or other allowed materials.

“Always check on the status of burn permits with your local fire department or with the DNR before you start burning,” Rogers said. “Always check the weather. If it’s windy, dry and warm, do not burn. A fire can escape very quickly under those conditions.”

A DNR staffer inspects a fire supply trailer for readiness in Marquette.

Before burning yard waste, go to Michigan.gov/BurnPermit to make sure weather conditions allow.

Some additional important fire safety tips include:

Never leave a campfire, bonfire or yard waste fire unattended.
Always keep a shovel, metal bucket and water source nearby.
When finished with your fire, douse it thoroughly with water, stir the ashes and douse again. Repeat until cool.
Your fire should be at least 10 feet away from logs, stumps or debris. Remember to make sure no branches are hanging overhead.
Do not burn on windy days or during periods of dry weather.
Consider composting yard waste instead of burning.
If the fire escapes your burn barrel or designated area, call for help immediately.

Another thing to think about in springtime is keeping homes safe from wildfires.

Homeowners can make their homes less susceptible to wildfire by taking some simple steps towards Firewise landscaping:
Create a “fire-free” area around your home. Trim branches, mow the lawn regularly and remove dead vegetation near the home.
Use non-flammable landscaping materials and plants with a high moisture content. Water plants, trees and mulch regularly.
Create “fuel breaks”, like driveways and walkways, in your yard.

DNR firefighting equipment sits ready on shelves at the Incident Coordination Center in Marquette.

Throughout spring, summer and fall, DNR fire managers have a phone call every Thursday to discuss the weather forecast and the risk of fire in each area of the state. If needed, they’ll move staff around geographically to meet expected needs.

“We’re ready for the season,” Vasher said. “The tactics meetings get us started. It’s to get your mind set that fire season is coming, that your equipment is ready, that you have everything you need for the year.”

Check out previous Showcasing the DNR stories in our archive at Michigan.gov/DNRStories. To subscribe to upcoming Showcasing articles, sign up for free email delivery at Michigan.gov/DNR.

Note to editors: Contact: John Pepin, Showcasing the DNR series editor, 906-226-1352. Accompanying photos and a text-only version of this story are available below for download. Caption information follows. Credit Michigan Department of Natural Resources, unless otherwise noted.

Text-only version – Showcasing – Fire Season

Atlanta: Michigan Department of Natural Resources firefighters responded to this fire off Canada Creek Highway in the Atlanta Forest Management Unit in May 2021. Michigan’s fire season begins in spring, and DNR firefighters are ready for it.

Helicopter: When Michigan’s fire season is less busy later in the summer, Michigan Department of Natural Resources firefighters often help put out wildfires in other locales. This DNR crew was working with an international team to battle wildfires in Manitoba in 2021. From left, Steve Schummer, Courtney Moore, Doug Tyran and Matt Tonello.

Prescribed: Firefighters led by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources conducted a prescribed burn May 8, 2018, at Fayette Historic State Park in Delta County. This was the first time a fire was burned by the DNR for historical purposes, that being to reopen what would have been the infield of the half-mile, oval-shaped horse racing track.

Spring: Scott Lakosky of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources provides instruction and refresher information at the 2017 Upper Peninsula spring tactics meeting at American Legion Post 131 in Munising.

Supply: Wildland firefighting supplies stored at the ready at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Incident Coordination Center in Marquette.

Trailer: Keith Murphy inventories the cache of equipment inside the mobile trailer that supports an Upper Peninsula Michigan Department of Natural Resources incident management team when it rolls out on an incident like a wildfire.

DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/DNR.

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