WAUSHARA COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Crews say they have a large wildfire 99% contained, after the flames burned several hundreds of acres and multiple structures in Waushara County.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports that the Pallet Fire, just southeast of Coloma in Waushara County, started around 1 p.m. on Monday.
The fire began south of Highway 21 but then traveled across the highway and continued burning.
Officials on the scene said the fire was erratic, and crews battled spot fires leaping ahead of the main fire.
At one point, the DNR estimated 800 acres were burned in the blaze; however, the department has since reduced that estimation to 400 acres.
DNR Fire Information Officer Amy Penn says several evacuations occurred right away. A reunification center was opened at the Coloma Community Center.
Many departments helped respond to the blaze, including 13 DNR engines, 10 tractor plows and an air attack plane.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the DNR says Monday’s weather conditions — warm temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds — created an elevated fire danger. Other than the Pallet Fire, 11 other wildfires occurred on Monday in Wisconsin.
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