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Weekly Blast!: It’s been an exciting and hopeful week for the Town of Grant. On Monday Supervisor Doug Steltenpohl convened a meeting for our snowplow operators to discuss what worked and what didn’t during the recent blizzard. During their discussion Supervisor Provost chimed in that state historical records reported that this area had not had a storm of similar intensity since the late 1800s – whoa! Our operators have been charged with considering the current plow routes and to make suggestions for possible modifications in preparation for next winter season. Later that morning the Board met and approved the planned purchase of a chipper. This purchase will allow our Public Works crew to chip the brush they clear along our rights-of-ways and distribute the mulch into the adjoining woods. This will be a much cleaner operation for all to see. Once our winter season’s brush has been chipped the crew will get to clearing the brush laying within ditches and swales so as not to impede spring flow from melt. Last, we will be making small repairs on our JCB, now 32 years old and showing its age. We will use it short-term but intend to sell it and move to a lease to own program for a newer machine over the next three years. Currently we use our backhoe/loader for many functions almost daily. It’s time.   Today and tomorrow winter; Sunday through next week, spring? Hopefully, Sharon  

Posted on by webmaster

Special Fire Order Issued Due to Ongoing Drought

DNR Reinstates Burning Permits Beginning Oct. 15
In 13 Wisconsin Counties

 MADISON, Wis. – Due to prolonged drought conditions and potential for elevated fire danger, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will reinstate DNR burning permits by issuing a Special Fire Order in 13 Wisconsin counties. The permit reinstatement will begin at 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in designated DNR protection areas until further notice. 

The permit reinstatement applies to the following 13 extensive DNR protection area counties outside incorporated cities and villages: all of Columbia, Crawford, Green Lake, Marquette, Portage, Richland, Sauk, Waupaca, Waushara counties and portions of Oconto, Dane, Grant and Iowa counties.

A DNR annual burning permit is now required for burning in a barrel, a debris pile and grass or wooded areas as outlined by the permit, unless the ground is completely snow-covered. Before burning in these areas, anyone wishing to burn must obtain a DNR burn permit and then visit WisBURN for the current burn restrictions.

Traditionally, DNR burn permits are required in extensive protection areas from Jan. 1 through May 31, anytime the ground is not snow-covered. Reinstating permits allows the DNR to suspend burning on a given day during times of elevated fire danger.

A DNR burn permit is not required for campfires intended for cooking or warming, but the public is reminded to use extreme caution. Consider having small campfires in a designated fire ring or device in the evening hours to avoid burning under elevated fire conditions, which are typically found during the day.  

Current wildfire concerns are primarily due to the lack of precipitation across the entire state. Wisconsin has received record low rain in recent weeks, resulting in varying levels of moderate to severe drought. Wildfires that occur under these conditions can burn for great lengths of time and smolder underground for days and can be challenging to suppress. 

Dry conditions, coupled with the potential for increased fire danger in the fall due to dead leaves, pine needles and other dry vegetation on the ground, make debris burning especially risky. Debris burning continues to be the leading cause of wildfires in Wisconsin.   

The DNR intends to keep the permit requirements in place until the drought situation improves significantly, either due to long-term rain or snow events. The DNR will continue to evaluate as conditions change.  

Check current fire danger, wildfire reports and burning restrictions on the DNR website.