In 2006, 238 forest fires burned over 290 acres in the DNR
Wisconsin Rapids Area. Less
than 25 percent of all forest fires last year were the result of
people burning brush piles and/or failing to completely extinguish
when they were done. Specifically, in the Towns of Rome and Leola
there were 11 reported forest fires burning over 16 acres.
As of January 31, 2007, 1 forest fire has burned less than one
acre in the Wisconsin Rapids Area.
For current DNR fire statistics and fire danger level, please
visit http://workplan.org/forestry/FireReport/Public/Reports/WDNR-Fire_Report.asp.
To learn more about the DNR Fire Management program visit http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/forestry/Fire/index.htm.
If the ground is completely snow covered (meaning 1 inch of
snow or more) and the snow cover will remain during the time you will
be burning, a burning permit is NOT required.
If, on the other hand, the ground is not completely snow
covered or it is snowing in the morning, but it is not accumulating, a
burning permit IS required. Good
judgment needs to be used; if a light snow fell overnight and the
predicted high for the following day is 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the
snow would likely melt during the day and a burning permit WOULD BE
required.
Keep in mind that burning permits are only valid under very
specific conditions. Burning
permits allow you to burn from 6:00 PM until midnight, except Sundays
and holidays. Only clean paper, untreated and unpainted wood,
cardboard, brush, leaves, and needles can be legally burned with a
burning permit.
Note – this excludes treated lumber,
plywood, and oriented-strand board (OSB)!
DNR burning permits are required in all unincorporated
areas of southern Wood County, all of Adams County and the majority of
Juneau County. This
includes the entire Town of Rome.
Burning permits are free of charge and can be
obtained from your local DNR office, ranger station, or Emergency Fire
Warden. In the Town of Rome, burning permits are available
at Pritzl’s, Lake Arrowhead Lodge and Lake Camelot Lodge.
The consequence of burning without permit is a fine
of at least $160. In
addition to receiving a citation, individuals that cause a forest fire
are responsible for all suppression costs and are liable for all
damage the fire causes.
Individuals who conduct outdoor burning not only need to obtain the
proper permit, they need to make sure they never leave the fire
unattended. Numerous
forest fires result every year from unattended burning operations or
from burn piles and campfires that were not completely extinguished.
A shovel and water go a long way toward preventing forest
fires every year. A
campfire or burn pile that is still “smoking a little” or just
“smoldering” is NOT completely extinguished.
The saying, “where there’s smoke, there’s fire”
holds a lot of truth.
The first line of defense for your home in the event of a
wildfire is not the firefighter…it is you the homeowner.
There are many ways homeowners can protect their home and
property from wildfires days, weeks, or months before a wildfire
occurs this year. Each
property owner received a flyer with their tax bill this year that
outline just a few things that homeowners can do to make their home
and property Firewise. If
you have misplaced the flyer or would like a more extensive list of
“Things You Can Do to Protect Your Home”, please contact me at
(715) 421-7823.
Careless outdoor burning, although the leading cause of forest
fires in Wisconsin, is not the only cause.
Early in the spring when the nights get cold, many people use
their wood stoves and/or fireplaces.
When cleaning out the ash from these, there can be hot coals or
embers that persist for several days.
Ashes should be extinguished by placing them in a metal
container and soaking them with water for 24 hours.
If you spread them out on your garden area or other areas of
the yard that are not snow covered double check the ashes to make sure
they are cold, DEAD OUT.
If you have been burning brush piles this past winter, be sure
to check the remnants of the brush pile to see if there are still some
smoldering materials that have been protected from the moisture we
have received. Brush
piles that were not completely extinguished during the winter have
been documented as causes of forest fires up to three months later!
If these smoldering materials are not completely extinguished,
a fire may unexpectedly flare up on a dry, windy spring day.
You might also want to consider alternative methods of
disposal. Composting,
recycling, and chipping are all alternatives to burning that are much
safer, reduce air pollution, and are typically time savers in the end.
The Town of Rome
If the weather turns warm, dry, and windy for extended
periods, the DNR will not hesitate to temporarily cancel the issuance
of burning permits or, if necessary, ban all outside burning.
For individuals who will be burning this spring, please watch
and listen for changes in the burning conditions.
This spring have fun, obtain a burning permit if you plan to
burn, and become Firewise.
Thank you to the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of residents and
visitors last year who had obtained burning permits when necessary,
understood why we cancelled burning permits twice last year, and were
concerned enough about the dangers of burning and forest fires to
share and spread the fire prevention message.
Brian Luebke, DNR Forest Ranger
