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DNR forecasts busy wildland‑fire season; staff, partners and equipment prepositioned
Summary
DNR forestry staff told the Natural Resources Board the 2025 wildland‑fire season will be active with drought conditions persisting across much of the state; the agency reported more fires than the 10‑year average so far and described suppression resources and partnerships.
Division of Forestry staff briefed the Natural Resources Board on April 9 on wildfire preparedness and the 2025 outlook. The DNR said drought conditions persist across large portions of the state, this spring’s fire season has already had higher‑than‑average fire counts and that agency resources and partners are prepositioned for response.
Why it matters: Increased fire occurrences raise the risk to life, property and natural resources; they also increase demands on department staff and local fire departments and may require mutual-aid and aviation resources.
Key points from the briefing
- Recent activity and trends: The DNR reported roughly 300 fires year‑to‑date at the time of the briefing, compared with a typical year‑to‑date average of about 156. The agency averages roughly 860 fires annually and about 1,800 acres burned historically; early 2025 saw unusually early activity because of limited winter snow and drier conditions.
- Notable incidents: The season’s largest incident to date was the Big Island fire (Green Lake County), about 800 acres; the DNR described the response as significant and noted the different equipment and tactics required for marsh and lowland fuels.
- Preparedness and resources: The DNR described suppression resources (Type 6 engines for initial attack, Type 4/engine tractors and plows for heavier ground work), aviation assets (fixed-wing single-engine air tankers, water scoopers from Canadian partners, National Guard Blackhawk helicopters), and incident‑management teams. The department reported increased staffing levels this spring and that it has completed many prescribed burns already in 2025 to reduce fuels.
- Causes and prevention: The DNR emphasized that most Wisconsin wildfires are human caused (burning debris, equipment use, etc.) and urged public education; the agency also highlighted partnerships with around 800 local fire departments and non‑government partners for both suppression and prevention work.
Board discussion and public advice
The board asked about impacts from blowdown and storm debris and about outreach to protect newly developed properties in the wildland‑urban interface. The DNR said it conducts pre‑season planning, works with local communities on wildland‑urban interface mitigation and uses grants and specialists to assist local efforts.
Ending: The DNR asked the public to follow burn regulations, heed fire-danger messaging, and report wildfires quickly. The department said it will continue interagency coordination and will update the board as the season progresses.
