Wildfire at Necedah Wildlife Refuge burns 240 acres

There were 17 wildfires reported in Wisconsin Saturday

NECEDAH, Wis. (WKBT)– Fire crews are responding to 240-acre wildfire at the Necedah Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County. The fire is burning in a lowland/marsh part of the refuge.

People were evacuated along 17th street and Highway 80 because there were structures in the fire’s path. Four to five structures were threatened, but not impacted.

The DNR’s Southwest District Incident Management Team was activated and a command post was set up at the Necedah Village Town Hall. County emergency management officials along with local law enforcement agencies, US Fish and Wildlife Service and fire departments from Necedah, Cutler, Armenia, New Lisbon also assisted at the scene.

Multiple agencies were on scene working the fire from the ground, along with three single-engine air tanker planes fighting the fire from the air.

However, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said the fire is contained with fire breaks improving and mop up is underway. The DNR said a plan is being developed to ensure control of the fire.

Authorities say the cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries have been reported.

Saturday’s weather conditions resulted in the fire danger being ‘very high’. That includes warm temperatures, low relative humidity, and very windy conditions.

As a reminder, burning permits have been suspended since late-march because of the coronavirus.

This was the 17th wildfire in Wisconsin on Saturday.

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