Burning permits suspended
Spring in Wisconsin has the highest fire risk, with the No. 1 cause of wildfires debris burning. Wildfires pose a serious threat to public safety, property and natural resources.
Because of the COVID-19 Safer at Home order, the DNR is taking proactive measures, by suspending all DNR burning permits until further notice, to protect the health and safety of Wisconsinites.
All burning of debris in barrels, burning of debris piles on the ground, grass or wooded areas, is prohibited at this time. Most debris fires occur in the spring after the snow-cover melts and before vegetation greening.
Spring is when people are outside doing yard clean-up, then burning leaves, brush and pine needles.
Burning permits are required by the DNR in many parts of the state, to conduct legal and responsible burning in the outdoors. Burning permits are also required in DNR forest fire protection areas to conduct burning of legal materials when the ground is not completely snow-covered.
DNR burning permits do not apply within incorporated cities and villages. These municipalities oftentimes can, and do, create their own burning permit requirements. In addition, some townships may choose to be much more restrictive than state law and may not allow burning at any time.
Regardless of where burning, it is up to the individual to check with the local municipality for their regulations, even if in possession of a DNR burning permit.
Emergency responders and firefighters have an increased need to take pandemic precautions, so they remain available to continue to protect the public from wildfires and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
