Last week’s rains were not enough to lift the state out of high fire danger level. All 72 counties are now under a high fire danger level after some counties were listed at moderate levels last week.  High fire danger is the third highest level listed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, sitting below very high and extreme. The DNR has blamed the lack of snow cover and rain for an early start to wildfire season. So far, there have been 187 wildfires across the state, burning approximately 355 acres. At this same point last year, there had been just seven wildfires across the state, burning approximately 10 acres. A pair of brush fires put out last week by the Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department that occurred on the same stretch of South Stevenson Pier Road were not included in the count. Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht reminded residents last month to be careful if they decide to burn in these conditions.

So far, no departments have banned the issuance of burning permits.