BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Spring has sprung in our area, and you can really feel it with the warmer temperatures.
Although it may seem like the snow was just here, the DNR tells us fire season is in full swing in our state. In fact, a red flag warning is set for Wednesday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for 41 counties in central and southern Wisconsin.
“Fire danger can be very different today versus tomorrow, things can dry out very quickly when we have vegetation that hasn’t fully greened up yet, and we’re in that space you know right until that snow cover disappears until vegetation greens up,” says DNR Wildfire Prevention Specialist Catherine Koele.
Koele says the organization is expecting a busy week.
The fire danger is ‘very high,’ currently for Brown County.
“So we anticipated an active day yesterday as well as the coming days, so yesterday we had 14 fires for about 11 acres which is actually pretty good, we’re getting on these fires pretty fast,” says Koele.
Koele says debris burning is the number one cause of wildfires in our state.
“Right now it’s really critical that folks hold off on conducting any of those debris burning fires, campfires for warming or cooking are not recommended as well,” says Koele.
Koele says if you choose to have one of those campfires in these conditions and you notice the fire spreading to call 911 immediately, and do not attempt to put out a large fire on your own.
Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday signed Executive Order #191 declaring a State of Emergency in response to elevated wildfire conditions throughout Wisconsin.
Another part of Spring is allergy season, according to an allergy research company Tuesday’s map shows that most of our state is in the high category.
According to the Kagen Allergy Report, 1,052 pollen grains per cubic meter of air, have fallen in Northeast Wisconsin in the past 24 hours.
Kagen also categorizes the risk for experiencing allergy symptoms very high.
The report states the predominant pollens right now are, cedar, cottonwood, and maple.
Brittany Bolstad, who suffers from allergies, was enjoying the day fishing with family at Voyageur Park in De Pere.
Bolstad says she can really feel the affects of the season.
“I’ve noticed I’ve had really congested sinuses right here in the last 72 hours, and my eyes are so itchy which is why I have my sunglasses on today and you can even tell I’m nasally,” says Bolstad.
She has been taking over the counter medicines, but says her allergies will not keep her from getting outside this spring.
“Not with sun like this, allergies won’t keep us away,” says Bolstad.
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