WisBURN | A place for all things ‘burning’ in Wisconsin

Catherine Koele, Wisconsin DNR, wildfire prevention specialist
Originally published by DNR and shared with permission.

Many people have come to recognize the Wisconsin DNR’s fire danger and burn restrictions webpage over the years. It draws upon nearly 700,000 page views every year from outdoor enthusiasts, rural property owners, hunters, farmers, local governments, and even the media. This is a one-stop-shop for all things ‘burning’ in Wisconsin.  

‘WisBURN,’ as it is commonly referred to, is a critical public communication tool used by the Division of Forestry to provide accurate and timely information on current fire danger, DNR burn restrictions and fire activity across Wisconsin. The main customer base targets DNR burn permit holders, who plan to burn debris or conduct small scale land management burns to find out if burning is allowed or suspended for the day.

There is a distinct separation between the fire danger and DNR burn restriction information. The fire danger applies to the entire state and therefore, the first thing customers see when visiting the page— this is intentional due to a certain subset of customers with DNR burn permits who only use the burn restrictions tab.  

DNR burn restrictions and fire danger change daily. After the latest weather reports are assessed by fire managers in the morning, the DNR burn restrictions and fire danger are updated at 9 am in order to give customers the opportunity to better plan and prepare for their outdoor activities for the day.

Customers might notice some snazzy enhancements like a searchable location box, easy clicking from one tab to the next at the same map extent, and more details when zooming in at a specific location. And, since over 75% of all WisBURN users are visiting from a smartphone device, the mapping application is tailored specifically for a mobile experience.  

Don’t have your burn permit yet? No problem – get your DNR burn permit online before you burn. Follow the rules on the permit, including heeding burn times and size limitations. Never leave your fire unattended and call 911 immediately if your burn escapes your control. 

Remember – even when the flames die down, your fire is not necessarily completely out. Embers can remain hot for days and have the potential to reignite. Use lots of water, drown, stir and repeat until cold. Go back and check again later for any remaining smoke or embers.

Spring is here! Now is a good opportunity to remind anyone wanting to conduct a burn in theoutdoors that this is the peak of Wisconsin’s wildfire season.  Right after the snow melts and prior to vegetation greening is the most critical time to take note of the rapidly changing fire conditions. Let WisBURN help!  Visit: apps/dnr.wi.gov/wisburn to monitor the fire danger and daily burn restrictions in your backyard.