Just because you can still see snow piles and big puddles in spots does not mean area fire departments are not on high alert for an increase in calls regarding grass fires. Spring often means the start of the grass fire season in Wisconsin as the temperatures begin to warm up and dry out the grass that is still dormant from the winter. Brussels-Union-Gardner Assistant Fire Chief Jim Wautier says there is usually a two-week period where this occurs before the grass begins to green up. He says if you must burn at this time of the year, you have to pay particular attention to the conditions.
Wautier says they will issue a burn ban if the conditions are too dry to burn safely. According to WSAW-TV, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says there were 23 grassfires reported through the end of March.
