ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On July 20, an EF-1 tornado touched down in Bark River, causing extensive damage to O.B. Fuller Park.
According to Delta County Parks Manager Heather LeDuc, hundreds of trees were impacted by the high winds. At least 60 completely fell to the ground. Although crews quickly removed any safety hazards from the park, many of the fallen trees remain.
On Tuesday, the Delta County Parks and Recreation Commission decided to process some of the trees for firewood. Board members hope to partner with the MSU Forestry Innovation Center to utilize its processing equipment, which would keep expenses down. Due to the large number of fallen trees, board members believe the firewood would get the park through a couple of seasons. The trees not processed for firewood will be left to regenerate and nurture the rest of the park.
LeDuc praised park personnel and community members for working to keep campers safe during the tornado.
“There was one camper that was totaled, and there was one tree that was on a truck,” she said. “Some close calls, but nobody was hurt. Everybody stayed together, and we didn’t have anybody that really wanted to leave. We did give that option for people to get refunded, and everybody wanted to stay. They worked together to help clean up.”
Click here to see footage taken at O.B. Fuller Park the morning after the tornado.
