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Town adopts five-year community wildfire protection plan after DNR presentation
Summary
After a presentation from a Division of Forestry representative, the Grand Rapids Town Board adopted a five-year community wildfire risk reduction action plan and heard that communities with a plan may apply for up to $10,000 annually for wildfire projects.
The Grand Rapids Town Board voted to adopt a five-year community wildfire protection plan following a presentation by Amy from the Division of Forestry (Wisconsin Rapids office). The plan focuses on outreach and education, address-sign and driveway-access initiatives, newsletter items, and other low-cost measures intended to reduce wildland fire risk in areas the DNR described as having elevated hazard.
Amy said the plan is intended to guide five years of community wildfire risk-reduction actions and that many of the items are education-focused and low-cost. She noted the Division of Forestry can provide free outreach materials (for example, driveway access flyers and building-permit brochures) and suggested continued use of the town and fire department web and social pages to share safety messages. Amy explained that communities with a community wildfire protection plan are eligible to apply for up to $10,000 per year to support projects such as establishing or maintaining a brush/transfer site. "Right now towns that have community wildfire protection plans are eligible to apply for $10,000 a year," she said.
Jim (speaker 9) moved to adopt Resolution 2026-09 and the board approved the resolution by voice vote. Board members asked clarifying questions about possible costs for reactive storm collection operations and were told eligible projects could include transfer-site expenses but that the DNR currently does not maintain the same storm-damage funds it once did.
The plan will be used to guide outreach and education and serve as the town's basis for seeking project funding from state resources where appropriate.
