Business & Economy

Detroit filmmaker shoots fire footage from a drone

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By MARTE SKAARA
Capital News Service
Three big fire trucks have brought out ladders and are spraying water on a burning building from above. On the ground firefighters and several fire trucks work to put out the flames. That’s when Harry Arnold launches his drone and flies it towards the fire, filming the big cloud of grey smoke rising from the building. Two firefighters were hurt in this May 30th Detroit fire. Arnold thinks that the video he made of the fire shows how important it can be to have an eye in the sky.

Agriculture

Weather, staffing fuel forest fire fears

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By JON GASKELL
Capital News Service
LANSING – Michigan can expect more wildfires this year, officials warn. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is predicting a greater number of forest fires and more acres burned as a result of an unusually warm winter. To make matters worse, long-term shrinking of firefighting resources has reduced the state’s capacity to quell blazes, according to DNR Director Rodney Stokes. DNR fire supervisor Scott Heather said Michigan is already seeing blazes much earlier than usual. “Usually for the Lower Peninsula, the season for fires begins around the third week of March,” Heather said.