Prolonged Drought Sparks Elevated Fire Risk

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking the public to avoid burning due to elevated fire danger across the state.

Most of Wisconsin is at high fire danger due to gusty winds and dry vegetation. All DNR-issued annual burning permits for debris piles, burn barrels and prescribed burns are suspended today in 25 counties where the DNR has burning permit authority. 

On Monday they announced that due to prolonged drought conditions and potential for elevated fire danger throughout the Fall, the agency is reinstating DNR burning permits by issuing a Special Fire Order in 13 Wisconsin counties.

The permit reinstatement began at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, October 15th, in designated DNR protection areas and lasts until further notice. 

The permit reinstatement applied to all of Columbia, Crawford, Green Lake, Marquette, Portage, Richland, Sauk, Waupaca and Waushara counties and portions of Oconto, Dane, Grant and Iowa counties.

Earlier this week, a DNR annual burning permit was required for burning in a barrel, a debris pile and grass or wooded areas as outlined by the permit, unless the ground is completely snow-covered. Before burning in these areas, anyone wishing to burn must obtain a DNR burn permit and then visit WisBURN for the current burn restrictions.

Traditionally, DNR burn permits are required in extensive protection areas from January 1st through May 31st, anytime the ground is not snow-covered. Reinstating permits allows the DNR to restrict burning on a given day during times of elevated fire danger.

A DNR burn permit is not required for campfires intended for cooking or warming, but the public is reminded to use extreme caution. Consider having small campfires in a designated fire ring or device in the evening hours to avoid burning under elevated fire conditions, which are typically found during the day.  

Current wildfire concerns are primarily due to the lack of precipitation across the entire state. Wisconsin has received record low rain in recent weeks, resulting in varying levels of moderate to severe drought. Wildfires that occur under these conditions can burn for great lengths of time and smolder underground for days and can be challenging to suppress. 

The Roche-Cri State Park ‘Stairway Fire’ in Adams county was just 100% contained on Friday October 11th. After a wildfire burned 6 acres in the park that sparked on October 6th.

Even the recent rain over the weekend has not improved the overall drought. Ongoing dry conditions, coupled with the potential for increased fire danger in the fall due to dead leaves, pine needles and other dry vegetation on the ground, make debris burning especially risky. Debris burning continues to be the leading cause of wildfires in Wisconsin.   

“Right now we just happen to be at a time where we don’t have enough rain. A dry spell, that’s what is going on right now. A couple fires have started from mowing operations. It has to be very dry for that to happen. So that’s kind of where we are.” says Amy Penn with the Wisconsin DNR.

The DNR intends to keep the permit requirements in place until the drought situation improves significantly, either due to long-term rain or snow events.

The DNR prescribed burn program will also pause activity this week due to the elevated fire weather conditions. The DNR will continue to evaluate as conditions change.  

Check current fire danger, wildfire reports and burning restrictions on the DNR website.