By Ryan Spoehr
SLN STAFF
Walworth, Waukesha and Jefferson counties have been at an elevated risk for fires the past several days due to dry conditions, leading to Sunday’s “very high” fire warning by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
On Monday, that warning was downgraded to “high,” but that doesn’t mean the danger isn’t present, according to local fire officials.
When the DNR sets the fire danger at “high,” it suggests contacting local fire departments or municipal officials for guidance on burning.
“We recommend you do not burn up until we get rain and get greened up here,” Eagle Fire Captain Scott Kugel said.
With the danger as high as it is, all of southern Wisconsin is prone to grass fires that easily can spread quickly because of wind, which is leading to suggestions by fire officials to not burn leaves, have bonfires or do any other burning-related activities.
On Sunday, the Eagle Fire Department attended to one fire in the village. The department also responded to a fire in Mukwonago. And there was a report of a fire in North Prairie.
Palmyra Public Safety also responded to a wildfire on Highway 59. Public Safety Director James Small said it was relatively small and his department contained it. It was about a quarter of an acre, he said.
Small also encouraged caution to area residents and asked them to be safe. His department and the Eagle Fire Department sent out pleas via Facebook asking people to adhere to fire restrictions because dry conditions and wind persist.
“The risk is probably going to continue throughout the week,” Small said.
According to the National Weather Service on Tuesday, forecasts called for wind everyday this week through Friday. Also, forecasts indicated the next chance of precipitation would be Friday night into early Saturday morning when there would be a 40 percent chance of snow. However, the forecasts did state that snow would be “likely” before noon or 1 p.m. with rain after that.
In Jefferson County, there were reports of grass fires in Sullivan and Helenville.
The Eagle fires reported by the Eagle Fire Department were just two occurrences in Waukesha County on Sunday. There were four grassfires in the Town of Tess Corners on Sunday and more spread throughout the county.
“There were several more in the county,” Kugel said.
In Walworth County, there were grass or hay fires reported in Linn, Darien and Sharon.
On Monday, Walworth, Waukesha and Jefferson counties were three of 26 Wisconsin counties with a “high” fire danger. On Wednesday, the risk increased into even more counties up to Central Wisconsin. There were 35 counties in Wisconsin with the “high” fire danger.
There are five levels of fire danger ranging from “low” to “extreme” by the DNR. After “high,” there is “very high” and “extreme.”
To stay current on fire warnings and restrictions, go to dnr.wi.gov/topic/forestfire.
