It appears that at least six Crawford County homes are damaged as a forest fire continues to burn there tonight.
   Michigan Department of Natural Resources fire officials say one of their aerial crews spotted the six damaged homes in the Simpson Lake area. They are waiting on a ground crew to confirm whether the homes were actually destroyed.
   Emergency workers evacuated some 50 people from homes and businesses in the fire's path. A shelter has been set up by the American Red Cross at Michelson Memorial United Methodist Church on Michigan Avenue in Grayling.
   Crawford-Ausable Schools will be closed Friday due to the forest fire.
   The fire diverted and closed more than a dozen roads throughout Crawford County Thursday. As of late Thursday, I-75 has been reopened through Grayling in both directions -- it had been closed for much of the day.
   In all, the wild fire has burned at least 1,100 acres, according to the DNR.
   DNR officials tell 9&10 News the fire started Thursday afternoon near 4 Mile Road and I-75 -- sparked by several small fires around a railroad line.
   Nearing midnight, fire fighters said they were finally starting to get a handle on the fire.
   While the National Weather Service dropped its Red Flag warning early and conditions are improving as rain moves into the region, our Doppler 9&10 Weather team says the threat for more fires and flare-ups is ripe.
   
   Click on the video to see our full coverage from 9&10 News at 11:00 Thursday night.