Dear burning permit holders,
Wildfire season is here! The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has already responded to nearly 400 fires this year, which have burned around 800 acres. Burn permits will be suspended in most counties over the next several days due to dry conditions. You are urged to avoid all burning until conditions improve.
Breezy conditions and low humidity are in the forecast. This coupled with all the dry grasses and leaf litter on the ground can lead to an increase in the potential for wildfires. Vegetation is greening up nicely in southern Wisconsin, but expect to see high to very high fire danger over the northern two-thirds of the state.
The greatest concern are the sandy soil areas where pine trees live. We are entering a time called the “spring dip.” Moisture content in pine needles is low while the starch content is high. This combination, which is not visible to the naked eye, means that pine trees are more likely to catch fire during a wildfire and crown fires (fires in the treetops) are possible. The timing of this phenomenon coincides with the greening up of ground vegetation and leafing out of trees.
We appreciate you taking the time to obtain a DNR burn permit. But, it’s critical this time of year take sure you check the daily burn restrictions online after 9 a.m. each day or by calling 1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876) to see if burning is allowed.
DNR burn restrictions and fire danger change daily. Follow the rules on the permit, including heeding burn times and size limitations. Never leave your fire unattended and call 911 immediately if your burn escapes your control.
Remember – even when the flames die down, your fire is not necessarily completely out. Embers can remain hot for days and have the potential to reignite. Use lots of water, drown, stir and repeat until cold. Go back and check again later for any remaining smoke or embers.
Thanks for helping us prevent wildfires!
