Fire control officials at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will lift emergency burning restrictions beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Aug. 13, in all of Waupaca County.
Restrictions have also been lifted in Adams, Columbia, Green Lake, Marquette, Portag eand Waushara counties, and portions of Jackson, Juneau, Monroe and Wood countiess.
“The recent rain has improved the overall fire danger situation for us to feel comfortable about allowing campfires again,” said Wildfire Prevention Specialist Catherine Koele. “Over the last several weeks, vegetation has started to green again and this is what we have been waiting for.”
Despite the recent precipitation, drought conditions will continue in much of central and southern Wisconsin. Drought recovery is a long-term process and will continue into the fall and winter months.
In the short-term, continued soaking rain events and cooler temperatures are necessary.
Fire control officials stress that the fire danger changes daily and it’s important to check with local fire officials before conducting any outdoor burning.
“Going forward, we may need to suspend burning permits for debris burning,” says Koele. “We will continue to keep a close eye on the weather as we enter the fall months when the leaves begin to fall and vegetation again dries out. The fire risk has temporally subsided, but can change quickly.”
“We would also like to acknowledge the great cooperation the public has given during the time the emergency burning restrictions were in place. It significantly reduced the number of wildland fires during this extreme fire weather period,” noted Koele.
For the current fire danger, visit dnr.wi.gov keyword “fire danger.”