Explore Wildfire and Prescribed Fire

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Wisconsin forests have a complex relationship with fire. While many forests need prescribed fire for them to remain healthy, wildfires can harm people, homes, wildlife—and even the forests themselves. Luckily, there are many things we can do to be more aware of the nuances of fire in Wisconsin. Explore the webpages below to learn more.

Wildfire

In Wisconsin, most wildfires occur in the spring from March through May. Over 98% of all wildfires in Wisconsin are linked to human causes, and the burning of debris (brush and leaves) is the most common way wildfires start.

Learn about wildfire

Prescribed fire

Most of Wisconsin’s land used to experience regular fires that kept ecosystems healthy and in balance. Depending on the landscape, the frequency of fire ranged from almost every year to every 20 years or so. Prescribed burns help re-introduce good fire and make our forests more resilient.

Learn about prescribed fire

Who can help you

To check today’s wildfire risk in your area, visit the WisBurn website. If you are burning debris or conducting a prescribed fire, you may need a burn permit, which you can obtain online. In Wisconsin, burn permits are required in Fire Protection Areas when the ground is not completely covered by snow. If you have burn permit questions and are in a Fire Protection Area, you can reach out to the local Wisconsin DNR Fire Dispatch.

To get help with prescribed burning, the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council is a great place to start. Another resource is your local DNR forester (or your private consulting forester if you already have one). They will be able to give you individualized advice about when and how your land might benefit from prescribed fire.

If you know that your woods could benefit from fire but don’t have the skills to do it yourself, you can hire a contractor to plan and carry out the burn. Check out the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council’s member organizations to find a contractor. The Wisconsin DNR also maintains a list of restoration contractors, many of whom do prescribed burns. (Lists are provided for informational purposes only and do not represent Extension’s endorsement of any particular company.)