Twelve U.P. and northern Michigan fire departments split $2.19 million in federal grants as the DNR warns fire risk is still high

Twelve fire departments across the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Michigan will share about $2.19 million in federal grants for breathing gear, a new tanker, a vehicle and other equipment, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin announced, 9&10 News reported Thursday, Oct. 22.

The money comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response programs, 9&10 News and WJMN reported. The announcement landed the same day the Michigan Department of Natural Resources warned that wildfire risk in the U.P. remains higher than usual for late October.

Here is the list of awards as reported, largest first:

City of Stephenson: $761,904 for self-contained breathing apparatus for seven volunteer fire departments in Menominee and Delta counties. Dafter Township: $490,780 to replace a tanker truck and buy fire hoses and nozzles. Village of Lake Linden: $285,714 for a vehicle. City of Manistique: $212,571 for equipment. Mentor Township: $122,457 for equipment. Drummond Island Township: $110,476 for equipment. Bay Mills Township: $95,238 for equipment.

Whitewater Township Fire Department: $28,571 for protective gear and training resources. Gerrish Township: $27,720 for equipment. Sands Township: $26,695 for equipment. City of Cheboygan: $20,990 for a portable firefighting unit for wildfires and places regular fire trucks cannot reach. Thompson Township: $6,305 for equipment.

The two largest awards, Stephenson’s and Dafter’s, account for about 57% of the total. Dafter Fire Chief Austin Conway told 9&10 News the township has no fire hydrants, so a reliable tanker is essential both at home and when crews help neighboring communities. The old tanker was decommissioned after it passed its service life, and the second part of the award replaces outdated or out-of-service hoses and nozzles, he said.

What the numbers suggest. At least five of the awards come to round totals once a 5% share is added: Stephenson’s works out to $800,000, Lake Linden’s to $300,000, Drummond Island’s to $116,000, Bay Mills’ to $100,000 and Whitewater’s to $30,000. That pattern fits FEMA’s firefighter-grant rule that the smallest communities cover a small local share of each project. The announcement did not spell out the local match, so ask your township board what it is putting in.

Fire risk is not over. DNR firefighters and partners have spent two weeks on the Rugged Terrain Complex, which includes the Ridge Fire 10 miles north of Marquette, the Craig Lake Fire and the Black River Fire near Wakefield. Together they cover nearly 1,400 acres, and each was at least 50% contained as of Wednesday evening, the DNR said.

“If you’re at deer camp for archery season, camping, riding ORVs or working outdoors, be aware of the fire danger,” said Paul Rogers, a DNR fire prevention specialist. Warmer-than-normal weather, fallen leaves and dry grass raise the odds that a spark from equipment or an ember from a campfire starts a wildfire, he said.

What this means for you. Check whether burning is allowed before you light a brush pile; the DNR’s burn permit page shows the day’s status. Keep a hose nearby, keep trailer chains from dragging, and don’t park hot equipment on dry grass. Put campfires in a pit or ring and drown, stir and drown them again before bed. If a fire gets away, call 911 first instead of trying to put it out yourself.

Sources:
9&10 News, “Northern Michigan fire departments awarded over $2.1 million in federal grants,” Oct. 22, 2026 (award list, programs, Dafter chief’s comments), https://www.9and10news.com/2026/10/22/northern-michigan-fire-departments-awarded-over-21-million-in-federal-grants/
WJMN/myupnow.com, “U.P., northern Michigan fire departments receive $2.1M in federal funding,” Oct. 22, 2026, https://www.myupnow.com/news/u-p-northern-michigan-fire-departments-receive-2-1m-in-federal-funding/article_570e78c4-f08b-410c-ab92-c5ef37937ebb.html
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, “UP fires may be waning, but risk of new fire remains high,” Oct. 22, 2026 (Rugged Terrain Complex acreage and containment, quote, tips), https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/newsroom/releases/2026/10/22/up-fires-may-be-waning
Total, shares and the round-number pattern are The Mitten Daily’s calculations from the reported awards.
Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Volant_Volunteer_Fire_Department_Tanker_652_(30804206955).jpg

Upper Peninsula

Tags: Upper Peninsula · Fire Departments · Federal Grants · Wildfire · Dafter Township · Public Safety