Michigan's humidity, dryness and strong winds create elevated risks for fire catching and spreading outside. Here's what to know in Michigan.

TUSCOLA COUNTY, MI – A former fire chief from Michigan’s Thumb area has been accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from his fire department. Nicholas Sakon, 35, of Unionville, is facing a ...

A fire alert is in effect for Michigan's Thumb as the state remains abnormally dry, according to the National Weather Service in White Lake. The alert, which is seldom issued, is an attempt to ...

A fire alert is in effect for Michigan's Thumb as the state remains abnormally dry, according to the National Weather Service in White Lake. The alert, which is seldom issued, is an attempt to ...

Nestled in Michigan’s Thumb, a region with both water and woodlands, are hidden treasures nature enthusiasts can still check out this fall.

Detroit Free Press front page from Sept. 9, 1881, with headlines from the terrible fire that ravaged the Thumb.

The worst of the fires burned for at least three days, starting Sept. 5, 1881 and made national news.

But before that, nearly 150 years ago this month, what may have been an even more deadly fire swept across Michigan’s Thumb, in Huron, Tuscola, Sanilac and Lapeer counties.