High fire danger sparks need for caution, safety

Superior firefighters spent an hour and a half beating down the city’s first sizable grass fires of the spring Wednesday evening. Both fires sprang up near a central Superior rail yard.

Eleven firefighters responded when the fires were reported about just before 7:30 p.m. One blaze spread through 10 acres north of North 21st Street, according to Battalion Chief Vern Johnson with the Superior Fire Department. The other scorched 30 acres between North 21st and North 28th streets before firefighters doused it. The cause of the fires, which started along the tracks, was undetermined. No injuries were reported and no structures were in any danger, Johnson said.

Most forest fires occur between March and June with the highest incidence being in April, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. With spring fire season in full swing, Johnson said, people need to be careful with all sources of ignition, from outdoor grills to cigarettes. The fire danger is highest from the time the snow leaves until the land greens up, Johnson said. If the grass is still brown and it’s not raining at the time, he said, there’s fire danger.

“Even though the ground seems wet, the grass is dry,” Johnson said.

According to the Wisconsin DNR Web site, fire danger is high in the entire area. While the Superior Fire Department is still issuing burning permits to city residents on an individual basis that could change if the weather gets drier.

According to information provided by the DNR Thursday, burning is currently allowed in Douglas County for those with a annual burning permit between 6 p.m. and midnight for covered barrel debris piles of less than 6 feet by 6 feet by 6 feet in size in a grassy or wooded area under one acre. To check daily burning restrictions in Douglas County, call the DNR at (888) 947-2876, then press 16 or the first four letters of the county’s name, 3684 or visit dnr.wi.gov/forestry/fire.

Tags: public safety, news, superior, fire