Waupaca County included in fire order
Due to exceptional and prolonged drought conditions and the potential for elevated fire danger, the state Department of Natural Resources will reinstate burning permits by issuing a Special Fire Order in Waupaca, Waushara, Portage and nine other counties.
The permit reinstatement will begin at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Sept. 18, in designated DNR protection areas until further notice.
The reinstatement applies to areas outside incorporated cities and villages in Waupaca, Waushara, Portage, Columbia, Crawford, Green Lake, Marquette, Richland and Sauk counties and portions of Dane, Grant and Iowa counties.
A DNR annual burning permit is now required for burning in a barrel, a debris pile and grass or wooded areas as outlined by the permit unless the ground is completely snow-covered. Before burning in these areas, anyone wishing to burn must obtain a DNR burn permit and then visit the WisBURN app for current burn restrictions.
Traditionally, DNR burning permits are required in extensive protection areas from Jan. 1 through May 31 anytime the ground is not snow-covered. Reinstating permits allows the DNR to suspend burning on a given day during times of elevated fire danger.
A DNR burning permit is not required for campfires intended for cooking or warming, but the public is reminded to use extreme caution.
Current wildfire concerns are primarily due to the lack of precipitation over the southern part of the state. Wisconsin has received record low rain this year, resulting in varying levels of severe to exceptional drought. These dry conditions, coupled with the potential for increased fire danger in the fall due to falling dead leaves, pine needles and other dry vegetation, make debris burning especially risky.
Debris burning continues to be one of the leading causes of wildfires in Wisconsin.
The DNR intends to keep the permit requirements in place until the drought situation improves significantly, either due to long-term rain or snow events. The DNR will continue to evaluate as conditions change.
Current fire danger information, wildfire reports and burning restrictions can be found on the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov.