Rapid River Ranger District. We arrived in Escanaba, Michigan and I couldn't help wondering what we are doing here. The grass is green and its about 45 degrees out. Michigans idea of severity is far different then New Mexicos. Which reminded me during the plane ride I had been reading Fire and Ashes by John Maclean. He mentions briefly the Peshtigo fire in Green Bay, Wisconsin that burned 2400 square miles and killed 1500 people in 1871 (a fire the helped start the suppression mentality). So, fire can rip in this area given the right conditions.

We spent the afternoon planting fire resistant tree species around a local high school. A nice break from traveling but not the big fire I had been expecting. The good news is the last two crews to stage in Escanaba got sent to fires in Minnesota as soon as their buggies arrived.