GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Many Northeast Wisconsin residents are urged not to start fires at this time.
DNR Wildfire Prevention Specialist Catherine Koele says much of the area is under a ‘high fire danger.’
Koele notes that is due to a combination of dry conditions, strong winds, and low humidity.
“When we start getting into this high and very high fire danger, it’s really not recommended to introduce any sort of a fire in the outdoors, even campfires.”
Koele urges people to wait for a safer day to conduct any burns.
However, she is unaware of when that will be since conditions vary heavily this time of year.
Koele notes forecasted rainfall later this week could alter the current advisory.
People can monitor daily burning restrictions at: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/ForestFire/restrictions.html.
DNR crews have kept busy thus far in 2017.
Through Sunday, Koele says there have been 336 wildfires in the Badger State, up from 265 in the same time period last year.
In Northeast Wisconsin, Koele says they’ve seen roughly 50-75 fires, with approximately 40 of those taking place in Marinette, Oconto, and Shawano counties.
She is not aware of any large fires in the area.
“Most of these fires are pretty small, usually about an acre or less than an acre, but it keeps our folks busy. Even these little fires can be problematic because there’s so many of them.”
Koele notes there is still the potential for larger fires as the state is heading into its ‘spring dip,’ which is known to bring blazes that cover more ground.
While Northeast Wisconsin’s high fire danger typically lasts until late May, Koele says “we’re starting to see some greening up in the southern part of the state. As things green up, that really lessens the fire danger as well.”
She notes that is pushing the potential for more severe fires northward.
