You are being advised to keep a close eye on your hot ashes and burn piles for the immediate future after the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced a high fire danger for much of the state on Monday. Sixty-nine of the state’s 72 counties, including Door and Kewaunee counties, are listed in the high fire danger zone. Northern Wisconsin’s counties of Florence, Forest, and Vilas are the only ones not included in the warning as they are listed in moderate fire danger. The DNR blames the lack of snow cover and rain for an early start to wildfire season. Over the weekend, 15 wildfires burned about 30 acres. That is a far cry from the state’s 10-year average for this time of year: three wildfires and two acres burned. Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht says they are not suspending burn permits yet, but he says dry times like these make getting one even more critical.
A chance of rain and snow on Tuesday and Wednesday and more rain forecasted for next Monday may help the area dip out of the high fire danger zone.
UPDATE: Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Chief Curt Vandertie told DCDN that firefighters tended to a grass fire likely caused by a discarded cigarette. We will have more on this when we are able.
