Event narrative (NOAA)
Lightning from a line of thunderstorms ignited The Duck Lake Wildfire 14 miles north of Newberry on the evening of the 20th. Strong south winds gusting over 30 mph on the 24th quickly fanned the fire and caused it to spread rapidly toward the Lake Superior shore forcing mandatory evacuations for people in the Pike Lake, Bodi Lake, Culhane Lake and Little Lake Harbor areas. The 21,069 acre wildfire, the third largest in modern Michigan history, burned 136 structures (including one store and one motel) before it was fully contained in mid-June. No injuries or deaths occurred from the fire. Road closures included County Road 414 east from the intersection with County Road 410 and County Road 500 from M-123 north to Little Lake Harbor. As a precaution, Tahquamenon Falls State Park was also clo
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.