Posted: 10.11.2011

An 11- acre wildfire in a remote area along the St. Croix River valley north of Grantsburg kept state wildfire crews busy Sunday. That fire, along with a number of smaller fires, has caused the fire danger rating to go from high to very high in Polk, Burnett and Washburn counties. State wildfire fighting crews are on full alert.

Department of Natural Resources Area Forestry Supervisor Steve Runstrom said that with the lack of rain, warm temperatures and dry fall fuels, wildfire conditions are escalating across northwest Wisconsin.

All burning permits have been canceled in most western and northwestern counties of the state. DNR air planes are partroling the north country.

“Our main concern, with these high winds, is a fire starting any place in the heavily forested areas,” Runstrom said.

These forests are host to permanent and seasonal homes.

A “Very High” fire danger rating means dangerous conditions for wildfires exist. Fires start easily and can spread swiftly across the tops of trees, the forest canopy. Winds can blow sparks and cause fires well ahead of the main fire. Such fires are difficult to control.

Runstrom asks all outdoor enthusiasts to make sure warming fires are drowned dead out before leaving them. The caution people to take care that hot mufflers on ATVs and other back wood vehicles do not come into contact with dry grass or combustible materials, to make sure all smoking materials are extinguished, and to slurry fireplace wood ashes with water before disposal.

“We are going to need everyone’s cooperation in preventing wildfires until we get some rain and the fire danger decreases,” Runstrom said.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources assisted in putting out the 11-acre blaze on Sunday, Runstrom said. There has been good cooperation between the two states when fires break out on bordering lands.

“Last week Minnesota had several fires across the river (St. Criox) and we sent heavy equipment to suppress them,” Runstrom said. “They helped us out by sending a couple of air tankers to quench the fire we had.”

The blaze north of Grantsburg was put out late Sunday night. The cause is under investigation. Mop up crews will be on site for several days.

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