Firewise

National media coverage of massive wildfire events might lead us to believe that major wildfires that cause the loss of homes happen only in mountainous western states like California. Nothing could be further from the truth! Many in Wisconsin believe that we haven't had significant wildfire damage since the great Peshtigo fire of 1871. However, here in Central Wisconsin, we have a long history of significant property damage from wildfire. In the spring of 1977, the Saratoga fire burned 90 buildings and caused $998,000 of damage. In April of 1998, the Rome fire caused $80,000 of damage, and in May of 1976, the New Miner Fire caused $280,000 of damage.

Today, there are more and more people building and living in the woods, and these risks are increasing. For example, on April 14th, 2003, a wildfire began in northern Marquette Co. It was an especially dry and windy day in Central Wisconsin. The weather conditions combined with highly flammable vegetation and other dead fuels resulted in explosive wildfire conditions. The fire readily moved into the tops of the trees and started spreading spot fires as embers flew out ahead of the flames. As the fire rapidly increased in intensity, all fire department resources were immediately put on protecting homes and cottages.

Placing buildings as the highest priority means that houses were saved, but it also means that these resources were not focused on stopping the fire. The fire directly threatened at least 24 homes in the area. Many of these structures were ultimately saved with the help of local fire departments, DNR wildfire resources, and private resources as well.

Of the homes that survived within the fire, several made it through undamaged because the homeowners had created a defensible space around their home for firefighters to work in. Other homes also survived, but were damaged by the heat of the fire, causing vinyl siding to melt and paint to blister.

Other homeowners were not as fortunate. Seven buildings were lost. The loss of buildings was due, in part, to a lack of access (long, narrow driveways with insufficient clearance for fire engines) and lack of defensible space (space between the buildings and highly flammable vegetation).

Many homes in the area survived because of simple luck with the fire passing close by but missing them. If the winds had behaved even a bit differently, things could have been much worse.

Debris burning is the suspected cause of the fire. Debris burning is the number one cause of wildfire in Wisconsin.