DNR: Fire danger "very high" in Rock, Walworth counties
The same dry conditions that have put several counties north of Madison under state-mandated burn bans also exist in Rock and Walworth counties, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources official said.
The DNR put Crawford, Richland, Sauk, Columbia and Green Lake and parts of Iowa, Grant, Adams, Juneau and Dane counties under burn restrictions.
The bans go in effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday and remain in place until the area gets significant rain. The bans prohibit all smoking outdoors, all fireworks, and outdoor disposal of ashes, charcoal briquettes, matches or any burning material. Campfires in those counties are allowed only at camping areas within a metal fire ring.
Communities in those counties with scheduled holiday fireworks are not under the order, although several municipalities there already have postponed or scrubbed fireworks displays for the Fourth of July, officials said.
Catherine Koele, a Wisconsin DNR Forest Fire Prevention Specialist, said that the DNR burn bans will not extend into Rock or Walworth counties because the DNR does not have fire jurisdiction there.
DNR fire jurisdiction is based on vegetation, historical fires, fire currents, housing density and existing memorandums of understanding with local fire departments.
Still, Koele said, it’s just as dry and fire hazards are just as high in Rock and Walworth counties as counties where the state has put burn bans in place.
“The fire risk is definitely no different there (in Rock and Walworth counties) than it is here, further north,” Koele said.
The hazards include widespread areas of dry grass and brush. Koele said that the DNR is reaching out to municipalities located south of its fire jurisdiction over the tinder-dry conditions.
“We’re encouraging local municipalities there to consider putting on some restrictions because the fire danger is so high,” Koele said.
Janesville fire officials have no plans to ban consumer fireworks, although fines will be issued for anyone caught using illegal fireworks without a permit, officials said.
However, Beloit has banned consumer fireworks because of dry conditions. And a group of Rock County fire chiefs last Friday put Rock County under an open/controlled burn ban until the area gets significant rain.
Unlike DNR burn bans, the Rock County burn ban is only advisory; it is not enforceable by fire departments in the county.
Jun 30, 2012 at 10:03 a.m.
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frogger, I'm sorry. I thought you were mocking poor writing in your first post, so I followed suit. I thought we were being silly.
For the record, I don't see enough errors to be independently silly (and acknowledge that I make plenty of my own).
Now about the story/weather: did anyone else see those 17 drops of rain last night?
Jun 29, 2012 at 2:18 p.m.
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Optimism- good to see you back. HAven't seen you for a while.
It just bugs me when the Gazette has so many errors. I just wonder what the Editor does.
I think we are behind in rainfall for more than just June.
We were behind in winter and YTD in rain.
This just stinks- please rain.
DO like the clouds though when so hot. Makes it a bit more easy to deal with.
Jun 29, 2012 at 12:33 p.m.
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Here copperguy is the DNR press release.
Emergency burning restrictions for 11 counties in southern Wisconsin will begin at 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 29. All portions of Columbia, Crawford, Green Lake, Marquette, Richland, and Sauk, and portions of Adams, Dane, Iowa, Grant and Juneau counties that are outside incorporated cities and villages are under these restrictions, which prohibit burning any combustible material outdoors until further notice. This includes: all fireworks (restricted and non-restricted); burn piles or barrels, (all DNR burn permits suspended); campfires with the exception of developed camping areas within a fire ring; outdoor disposal of ashes or charcoal briquettes; and smoking a cigar, cigarette, or pipe, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.
Jun 29, 2012 at noon
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Great - then it's full steam ahead for all the fireworks, right? Never let fear and common sense - along with a respect for Nature and the envieinment - stop us from our mandatory and explosive "patriotic" celebrations...some of them even "for Gawd," no less.
WWJD? Party on, no doubt!!!
Jun 29, 2012 at 11:57 a.m.
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Really? They can NOT ENFORCE a fire ban in Rock and Walworth counties? Don't special circumstances, such as being behind 4" of rain for this time of year, deserve special regulations ... I mean, with each summer continually getting drier each year, modifications are going to have to be made... just like school, the schools don't (rural mostly) have as many snow days as in years past due to less snow, therefore, why don't our kids get to get out a couple days early? nope. And boy if we go over, we have to make them up or oh boy.. big trouble. It's just time for our DNR, to start with, to realize with our global weather changes, laws need to be re-evaluated and new ones implemented on some ares, there are far too many people who are selfish and won't give it a second thought.
And on a side note, some of you people are so mean. WHY? Don't get your feathers all ruffled over such goofy things. I mean really? A typo sparks that much hostility? I am sad for you. You claim your not a professional writer, well, I am willing to bet your not a professional proof reader either. Therefore, stop and ask yourself if whatever it is that is going to rob a smile from your face, if it's going to matter a year from now. I promise you, battles can be chosen better. Back to the burn ban though, please don't burn, use fireworks, throw cigarettes out your windows *or smoke at a gas station pump* etc.... pull out the common sense and use it. Please. JUST because some of you may not own your own property and don't really care, a lot of us do, and as far as we are concerned,we work very hard to keep our woods/prairies animal friendly, and a careless strike could erase all the beauty we have implemented with the guidance of the DNR, and that is just pure selfish and careless.
Jun 29, 2012 at 10:31 a.m.
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i can't understand why janesville doesn't ban residential fireworks this year(unless we get some rain)too many people do not have any common sense. if a fire starts due to careless people, janesville should be responsible!
Jun 29, 2012 at 10:29 a.m.
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ru-"skip" I mean.
I don't write professionally!
Jun 29, 2012 at 4:59 a.m.
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Neil: How about a follow-up? I'm curious to know if this ban applies only to DNR areas or to all unincoporated areas? I know that Rock County is not yet included in the DNR ban, but assume it was. Take the tavern at 14 & 59, for example. They are not in an incorporated area. Customers can't smoke inside due to the state smoking ban. Are customers also now forbidden from smoking outside?
I'm really curious about this one.
Jun 29, 2012 at 4:52 a.m.
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So, outdoor smoking is banned, and indoor smoking is banned.
Jun 29, 2012 at 12:21 a.m.
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I usually have fireworks at the house , i live in a very patriotic part of the city where fireworks around the 4th are part of the norm . Sad to say there will be no fireworks from my area :-( . Plain and Simple Way too Dry . This year i'm going to opt for a loud music complaint instead ! Just trying to be responsible !.....Joking .....I Want to have a nice long shower just to sit and watch it rain , Lillys are dying so quick and they usually last until a week or two after the fourth .
Jun 28, 2012 at 10:40 p.m.
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Rock County should ban consumer fireworks...and the burn ban should be enforceable, it doesn't do any good to be advisory only
Jun 28, 2012 at 8:41 p.m.
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"treats of any fires and just ship it this year."
I agree about editing and proofreading, frogger, but where should they ship the treats?
Jun 28, 2012 at 8:30 p.m.
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As in past years, I'll be sitting in my back yard with the hose on standby. Way, way too many fireworks flying over our neighborhood. Still have the phone no for the police in my cell phone.
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http://blogs-images.forbes.com/erikkain/...
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With it so dry this year, why do we need fireworks at all? Just look at the images of Colorado, folks. We might not have the pine blister beetle, but we're still dry.
Jun 28, 2012 at 8:07 p.m.
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"We do need to practice extreme caution."
Yes, quit SMOKING would be a start.
Jun 28, 2012 at 7:58 p.m.
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In all reality ,it is very crispy and ready to go in many places,I am a smoker and I am being very cautious,I was following a car today on 14 and saw them toss out their cigarette butt, that's all it takes to get a doosie of a fire going. We do need to practice extreme caution.
Jun 28, 2012 at 7:50 p.m.
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I am so glad they warned me ,I had no idea it was dry out there !
Jun 28, 2012 at 7:36 p.m.
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"They bar smoking outdoors"
wow second one in two day.
Why don't you read just once before print.
Any fireworks should be banned this year. This is more than just dry! 4/10-5/10 for the month of June is not a lot. People be patriotic and save the treats of any fires and just ship it this year.
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