Burning not recommended as Portage Co. under ‘very high’ fire danger

By Brandi Makuski

While burning isn’t currently banned in Portage Co., firefighters are asking residents to step up their vigilance and caution if they decide to have a backyard fire.

Portage Co. and surrounding counties are under a very high fire danger on Friday, with no precipitation in the forecast for at least a week. A burning ban can only be issued by the state, but area fire chiefs don’t recommend any kind of burning at this time, and all burning permits in the county are now suspended.

“Conditions are such that it wouldn’t take much for any type of fire to get out of control due to the dryness of the materials, and the wind,” said Amherst Fire Chief Victor Voss.

Voss said under state law, small fires contained within a fire ring for “cooking, warmth, or enjoyment” are always permitted unless there’s a burning ban in place.

But he’s asking people to think twice before lighting a fire.

“People think that because when it rains it’s OK to burn; if it were to rain today, that the dryness would go away, but it’s the dryness of the material — the dry grass, the dry leaves, those types of things,” he said. “The only thing that really changes the fire danger is when things start to turn green.”

Plover Fire Chief Mark Deaver said it’s common for fire danger levels to fluctuate in the spring because of inconsistent weather patterns.

“If you’re going to have a campfire, have a pail or water or a hose nearby,” Deaver said.

Deaver’s crews have been called to several burning complaints in recent days, but he said all were complaint-driven and his crews are not out on patrol looking for them.

“The biggest thing is, a lot of these burning complaints are because people are starting these fires with flammable liquids and it gives off a big plume of smoke,” he said. “So that causes concern with neighbors.”

Voss reminded the public that while a small fire contained within a ring is currently allowed, “if your fire leads to damage or burns out of control, you’re accountable for that.”

“But it’s not a good time to have a campfire,” Deaver added. “I think the fire danger is going to be ‘very high’ for the foreseeable future because there’s no rain in the forecast.”

Under the National Fire Danger Rating System utilized by the U.S. Forestry Service, small fires can quickly become large fires and exhibit extreme fire intensity, such as long-distance spotting and fire whirls. The fires can be difficult to control and will often become much larger and longer-lasting fires.

It’s the fourth-highest level on the DNR’s fire danger scale, just under “extreme.”