Nearly 3,000 acres burned Wednesday; burning ban remains on Thursday
By Brandi Makuski
Burning permits are suspended and burning of any kind has been banned on Thursday, fire officials say.
Portage Co. is under a red flag warning again on Thursday, signifying extreme fire danger for the southern two-thirds of the state.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource, in conjunction with the National Weather Service, issued the warning for April 13, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Portage and most surrounding counties.
Portage Co. Sheriff Mike Lukas said small fires can quickly and suddenly get out of control. There were 21 wildland fires on April 12, burning 2,900 acres, he said.
Stevens Point Fire Marshal Terence Sinner said a burning ban is in effect in Stevens Point due to the dangerous conditions.
“All normally allowed open burning without a permit is hereby suspended, and no burn permits will be issued until further notice,” Sinner said by email on Wednesday. “If persons are found to be in violation of this burn ban, the Stevens Point Police Department will be notified and citations issued.”
A red flag warning is issued when a variety of weather factors come together to create especially dangerous wildland fire conditions. Warm temperatures, low humidity, gusty winds and exceptionally dry fuels are anticipated and can result in catastrophic fires.
Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday signed Executive Order #191 declaring a state of emergency in response to elevated wildfire conditions throughout the state.
The DNR 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.
