Burning ban continues in Portage Co. on Friday

Metro Wire Staff

Fire danger remains critically high in Portage and surrounding counties on April 14.

The National Weather Service in Green Bay said with continued dry conditions and higher-than-normal temps, the risk for quick-spreading fires remains high for the third consecutive day.

Burning is banned across the county on Friday.

Stevens Point Fire Marshal Terence Sinner said anyone found in violation of the burn ban in the city will be issued a citation by police.

Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday signed Executive Order #191 declaring a state of emergency in response to elevated wildfire conditions throughout the state.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources requested wildfire suppression support from the Wisconsin National Guard due to elevated fire danger across much of the state. The Executive Order will allow rapid mobilization of the Army National Guard’s Blackhawk helicopters to the areas of the state in most need of aerial fire suppression resources during the critical spring fire season, which generally lasts through the month of May.

As a result, the DNR is moving to extreme fire danger in those counties and will continue to prohibit burning with all DNR-issued burning permits.

Anyone who sees an unsafe burn should report it to the Portage County Sheriff’s Office Communications
Center at (715) 346-1400 or by calling 911.