Warnings of wildfires for parts of Wisconsin.
Dry conditions in northern and central Wisconsin have prompted the DNR to suspend burning permits in 18 counties. The agency’s Jim Bishop says there also urging people to use caution with cooking or camping fires, and when using machinery around vegetation. He says windy and dry weather can quickly spread those sparks, causing wildfires that could grow out of control.
Bishop says the high risk is the result of a lack of rain this spring and the snow melting earlier than normal. He says there will need to be a long period of sustained rainy conditions before the restrictions are lifted.
Burning permits have been suspended in Barron, Burnett, Sawyer, Washburn, Rusk, Polk, Oneida, Vilas, Lincoln, Langlade, Price, Forest, Florence, Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, and Iron counties.
Bishop says the dry conditions have already resulted in several wildfires, although all of those were quickly brought under control.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:02)