GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Spring is on the horizon and wildfire season is right around the corner. As the temperatures continue to rise and the snow disappears, the Wisconsin DNR is warning about the dangers of wildfires.
“To-date, we’ve had three fires in some patchy, grassy areas thus far. But the snow is melting, and we anticipate some increased activity over the next month,” said DNR Wildfire Prevention Specialist, Catherine Koele. “Typically, wildfire season will start in the south and move north as that snow cover disappears. With the warmer temps that we’re seeing right now, we anticipate maybe things going a little bit more widespread.”
The peak of Wisconsin’s fire season is in the spring, typically running from the time that snow cover disappears to just before Memorial Day, when things fully green up across the state. 98-percent of wildfires in the state are caused by people. Koele says that means a majority of them are preventable.
“Typically have lower humidity, higher winds, and then we also have folks outside doing debris burning. They’re cleaning up around their yards and then choosing to burn those materials,” Koele told WTAQ News. “The number one thing that people can do to prevent fires is to consider alternatives to burning. So if you have a debris pile in your yard, consider composting, chipping, or hauling those materials to an approved disposal site…Second option if you choose to burn, is to wait until the ground is completely snow covered. It’s not uncommon in Wisconsin for us to see a little bit more snow in our future as the weather does change, so wait for a good soaking rain or some snow. That’s going to be the safest time to burn.”
She also says if you plan on burning, that it’s important to obtain proper burning permits and understand the fire dangers before lighting things up. It’s important to keep an eye on your surroundings before burning this spring, especially in places like Oconto and Langlade counties, as those areas continue to clean up from major storms.
“We do see an abundance of fuel on the ground in those areas, and we do have a lot of concerns over the wildfire risk coming into the spring. So certainly pay attention to those fire restrictions and check before you burn,” Koele said.
Another common issue the DNR sees around the start of wildfire season, is that people think wildfires aren’t really a big deal in Wisconsin. In reality, Wisconsin sees about 1,500 wildfires burn across 3,000 acres every year.
“A big misconception is that even though today the fire danger might be low, tomorrow, things can dry out very quickly. Especially on those warmer dry days of low humidity, things can really pick up quickly and turn for the worse,” Koele said. “While our fires are small, we do have them and have them quite often in the spring. We might not have those large tracts of land like we see out west and the media coverage they get, but certainly wildfires do happen here in Wisconsin.”
For more information on wildfires in Wisconsin, check out the DNR’s website.
Comments