Wildfire Contained in White River Marsh State Wildlife Area

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – The Big Island Fire burned 750-acres in Green Lake county, causing homes to evacuate and buildings that needed to be saved.

Spring is wildfire season in Wisconsin and we just had a big one in central parts of the state yesterday. The fire danger was very high and winds were whipping up to 45mph. Easily spreading sparks that the investigation hasn’t uncovered how it started, yet.

The Wisconsin DNR says the Big Island Fire is now 100% contained as of midnight. The fire broke out at 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 17th. It burned primarily in cattails and marsh grass. 

In total, 13 fire departments responded. The press release says Berlin ambulance service was there, as well as the Green Lake Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, multiple DNR wardens and numerous DNR forestry fire control resources. Plus, a DNR patrol plane.

Six homes were evacuated and saved. 12 outbuildings were also spared. No structures were lost. No reported injuries, either.

Firefighters were out there all evening and overnight, trying to contain the fire and were still there in the morning.

Tuesday, they are focused on mop up. There are no active flames, but there is smoke. County Highway D was closed for the safety of firefighters working in the area and the public is asked to stay away.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The Wisconsin DNR says no DNR or private-approved prescribed burn was happening in the area at the start of the fire. The fire did burn on state and private lands.

Fire Danger remains very high in central Wisconsin Tuesday and high for a majority of the state. Don’t toss cigarettes and watch for equipment sparks.

Much needed rain is on the way Wednesday, as well as a snow storm north. Once the grass and trees green up, the risks go down for wildfires.

Monday alone, 15 wildfires lit around 777 acres up across the state.

Other fires in Richfield and Princeton also burned a total of 10 acres.

Debris burning was the reason fires started south, in Westfield and Caledonia, charring multiple acres each.