OCONTO FALLS, WI (WTAQ) – The weather is nice, the sun is drying up months of wet ground and that means fire danger has arrived.
In Northeast Wisconsin, fire danger is at a moderate level for now.
Richard Lietz, Oconto Falls DNR Forestry Team Leader says it does not take long for that to change. “We are looking to see what the winds are going to do,” he says. “Typically in the evening, the winds die down so that is why we tend to allow burning after 6:00 p.m.
Lietz says on sunny days when the winds are up, that is when wildfire concern is at a high.
Fires can be started by anything that causes a spark, including vehicles dragging broken parts on the roadway, but the most common cause is irresponsible burning. He says people need to be responsible when it comes to burning and the best way is to apply for a free permit.
“Call in and to check into with the time of the day and to see if burning is allowed. That is really the key factors of having the permit.”
Lietz says burning permits are free of charge and are good for the user for the season.
He says once you have the permit, you are covered as long as you call and check conditions before burning and avoid burning when the conditions call for it.
Not all fires are problematic. He says backyard fires for cooking or warming are usually okay, but weather dictates everything.
DNR.wi.gov also has up to date information on burning conditions.
