WISCONSIN DNR
ing green, there is increased activity that may spark fires, such as equipment use, fireworks and camping. Fall has a shorter peak for fire danger but can still produce a dangerous environment for fires as the leaves fall, covering the ground with dry, dead and loose material. Leaf burning and using fire pits to keep warm are also common in fall. Although winter is the least dangerous time, some fires can burn for weeks, which can be a problem if spring begins to approach.
Dry and windy conditions make spring a prime time for wildfires in Wisconsin, and the DNR joins other first responders in providing firefighting aid.
FIRE DANGER HIGH From warming homes to cooking food, fire can be a helpful tool. Fire also can be destructive. Unlike out West, spring is the most dangerous time for wildfires in Wisconsin. After the snow melts and before plants, trees and grass turn green, fires can spread quickly. While spring is always much welcomed after Wisconsin’s long winters, the season’s warm, dry and windy conditions create the perfect recipe for wildfires. Although wildfires can happen just about any time of the year, historically 60% of all annual wildfires in
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Wisconsin occur in March, April and May. In the state’s southern tier, fire danger could begin as early as midto late-February and eventually progresses northward through the state. With debris burning the leading cause of Wisconsin’s wildfires, weather is the single most crucial factor influencing how fires start and spread. Temperature, wind, humidity and precipitation are the key weather components that determine the daily fire danger. While spring is Wisconsin's most critical fire season, wildfires can still happen in summer. Despite the elevated humidity and vegetation turn-
HOW DO FIRES HAPPEN? Wildfires can start anywhere, especially where people live. People start 98% of wildland fires, most often by burning debris in the spring when vegetation is still dead and dry. Fires also have been started by heavy equipment and vehicles, while lightning strikes have sparked a small percentage. Generally speaking, wildfires of greater intensity tend to occur in areas of the state with sandy soils and pine country, though more populous areas may see a higher number of smaller fires. The average size of wildfires handled by the DNR is under 1 acre. “A wildland fire fuel can be anything from long prairie grass, pine needles or leaves, to dead trees that are tipped over,” Sass said. Because fuels can be found in rural and urban areas, the DNR sets burning restrictions in certain parts of the state and requires burning permits, which help lower the number of wildfires. Burning permits are free and easy to obtain and protect lives, property and natural resources from the damages of wildfires. Go to dnr.wi.gov/burnpermits. ON THE GROUND Burning permits help prevent wildland fires, but what happens when a fire ignites? The DNR has a full suite of fire suppression equipment, vehicles and tools to ensure fires don’t get out of hand. DNR forestry technicians like Alex Grubbs, based out of Trout Lake, work tirelessly to ensure the equipment is properly maintained before, during and after a fire occurs. “I’ve always been interested in being a first responder,” Grubbs said. “I like
