The Michigan Department of Natural Resources discovered 20 burned mattresses and bedspring frames on state-managed land in northern Michigan last week.
MDNR says conservation officers responded to a complaint on May 24 about the burned items in Benzie County's Inland Township. They're seeking information from the public about anyone responsible for dumping and burning them.
In a statement, Conservation Officer Rebecca Hopkins said that disposing of any household materials on state land is illegal, as is disposing of mattress by burning them.
“In this instance, the fire from the burning mattresses caused the grass and nearby trees to burn and damaged approximately one-half acre of public land. Had conditions been dryer, this incident may have spread into a larger forest fire.”
Officials hope that the headboards were mostly identical, hopefully making it easier to identify the person responsible.
