State lifts northwest Wisconsin burning ban

Emergency burning restrictions for northwest Wisconsin counties impacted by last summer’s severe windstorm will end at 12:01 a.m. Thursday in DNR fire protection areas. Portions of Burnett, Douglas, Polk and Washburn counties have been impacted by these emergency burning restrictions since April 6. Emergency burning restrictions applied to the designated areas outside incorporated cities and villages in these counties.

Under the restrictions, burning of any combustible material outdoors was strictly prohibited under this order. This included burn piles, burn barrels, camp fires, fireworks, smoking in the outdoors, and disposing of ashes or charcoal briquettes in the outdoors.

“We are at a point where we can now lift the restrictions. I would like to thank those in the Northwest for complying with these necessary restrictions,” Gov. Scott Walker state in a press release.

“Now that the area has received significant precipitation, the oak trees have leafed-out completely and the conifers have pollinated, this is a good indication that green-up has occurred and the peak of our fire season is coming to an end,” says Trent Marty, director of Forest Protection. “We still have a lot of dead timber on the ground and fire weather conditions can change quickly, so we will continue to utilize the burning permit system for permitting burning debris piles and burn barrels within the storm boundaries.”

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