Wisconsin DNR prescribed fire escapes

Escaped prescribed fire Wisconsin
Escaped prescribed fire Wisconsin
Escaped prescribed fire north of Grantsburg, WI. Photo by Wisconsin DNR.

A prescribed fire conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources escaped control on Tuesday north of Grantsburg in the northwest part of the state. The project, planned at 500 acres, burned an additional 600 acres before it was contained Tuesday afternoon with the help of two air tankers and a helicopter.

A spokesperson for the DNR said no structures were damaged. The fire burned grass, marsh and some upland forest, including jack pine.

Escaped prescribed fire Wisconsin
Escaped prescribed fire north of Grantsburg, WI. Photo by Wisconsin DNR.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

8 thoughts on “Wisconsin DNR prescribed fire escapes”

  1. Well……..

    READING THAT…….I would have used my !@#$%^ head and not touched asingle off

    But I will accused of Monday AM quarterbacking

    But SOME Rx burners are smarter than pilots (who have to read the weather as well)

    Granted I did not see this cuz I was not actively looking for th WX in Grantsburg, anyway……

    BUT there you….no one could wait another day……just like many a Rx Burn the last 3 years and you KNOW what that got ’em!!!!!!!!!

    Spell CO March 2011 and others….have we not LEARNED yet??????????

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  2. wonder what the prescription was and when the burn was started?

    FIRE WEATHER PLANNING FORECAST FOR NE MINNESOTA AND NW WISCONSIN
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
    527 AM CDT TUE OCT 1 2013

    …GUSTY WESTERLY WINDS…MILD…LOW HUMIDITY TODAY…

    .DISCUSSION…

    A COLD FRONT WAS MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHLAND THIS MORNING AND IS
    EXPECTED TO CLEAR THE TIP OF THE ARROWHEAD AND NORTHERN WISCONSIN
    BETWEEN 10 AM AND NOON. WESTERLY WINDS WILL BE INCREASING THROUGH
    THE DAY…AND BE GUSTY. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR OVER
    NORTHERN MINNESOTA INTO FAR NORTHWEST WISCONSIN. GUSTS OF 30 TO 40
    MPH WILL DEVELOP…WITH SOME LOCALLY HIGHER GUSTS ALSO POSSIBLE.
    HIGHS WILL RANGE FROM 65 TO 70 OVER MOST OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA
    WITH LOWER SEVENTIES OVER NORTHWEST WISCONSIN. MINIMUM HUMIDITY
    VALUES WILL DROP TO 20 TO 30 PERCENT MOST AREAS.

    THE WIND WILL BE MUCH LIGHTER ON WEDNESDAY AND THERE WILL BE A
    CHANCE FOR SHOWERS OVER NORTHERN MINNESOTA. MINIMUM HUMIDITY
    VALUES WILL BE FROM 25 TO 30 PERCENT OVER NORTHWEST
    WISCONSIN…AND 35 TO 45 PERCENT OVER MUCH OF NORTHEAST MINNESOTA.

    AN ACTIVE PERIOD IS EXPECTED THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THERE WILL
    BE A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS THURSDAY…WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL
    POSSIBLE. THE BEST CHANCE FOR RAIN WILL BE OVER THE SOUTHEAST
    HALF OF THE NORTHLAND. A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL THEN
    APPROACH THE REGION FRIDAY…AND LAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND. A
    PERIOD OF STRONG EAST/NORTHEAST WINDS WILL OCCUR…ALONG WITH THE
    CHANCE FOR MORE RAIN.

    WIZ006-012115-
    BURNETT-
    INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…GRANTSBURG
    527 AM CDT TUE OCT 1 2013

    .TODAY…
    SKY/WEATHER………PARTLY CLOUDY UNTIL 0800…THEN MOSTLY SUNNY.
    MAX TEMPERATURE…..69-74.
    MIN HUMIDITY……..25-30 PERCENT.
    20-FOOT WINDS…….SOUTH WIND EARLY 3 TO 7 MPH…BECOMING WEST
    5 TO 10 MPH THEN INCREASING TO 14 TO 19 MPH.
    GUSTS UP TO 31 MPH.
    HAINES INDEX……..6 OR HIGH.
    HOURS OF SUN……..10 HOURS.
    PRECIPITATION…….NONE.
    MIXING HEIGHT…….AROUND 5100 FT AGL (AVE 12-6 PM).
    TRANSPORT WINDS…..WEST AROUND 27 MPH (AVE 12-6 PM).
    SMOKE DISPERSAL…..AROUND 138000 OR EXCELLENT (AVE 12-6 PM).

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  3. That is why one needs a reliable Public Information Officer of sorts to put the positive spin on things

    If you are with the Feds, State, TNC, or locals……….bet one could find one

    Plenty of agencies take the easy way out and do not make phone calls or do not think PIO / PAO are needed to put the ” Agency” in positive light.

    I get it…..stuff has to be sensationalized….but there are counter methods…

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    1. Absolutely. EVERYTHING we do can be interpreted by our customers as negative or positive. Something as simple as a VFD having a fundraiser or as complex as an escaped prescribed fire can have dire consequences. No information is the same as misinformation.

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  4. It happens. Course the 10’s of thousands of non-escape rx fires that happen every year is hardly newsworthy.

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  5. Looks like she was a blowin pretty good! Were so scared to death in my area we don’t do hardly ANY burning.

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