Sunday, April 5, 2015

Prescribed burning in Wisconsin: Do you need a permit?

We are in the midst of our spring burn season but scheduling has been maddeningly complex, since it has been hard to predict from one day to the next whether the state has canceled burns. More complicated, some areas of the state need permits and other areas do not.

About 10 years ago I publised an article for The Prairie Promoter about burn permits in Wisconsin. There have been some important changes at the state level in how these burn permits are issued, so this Blog is a revised version of that article.

Note that there are two kinds of permits issued. The important permits for those carrying out prescribed burns are for daytime burns. The other permit deals with burns begun after 6 PM in the evening and on relatively small acreages. Daytime permits require the submission to the regional forester of a prescribed burn plan. After 6 PM permits require simply the application to the local fire warden. Both types of burn permits are discussed below.

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Burning permits are required for controlled burns in some parts of Wisconsin but not others. The regulations on burning are quite complicated and there is considerable variation across the state. In general, it can be stated that regulations are most stringent in those areas that are predominantly forested. It is in these areas that the Division of Forestry of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has the responsibility for controlling forest fires. In the Wisconsin Statutes, the term “forest fire” means “uncontrolled, wild, or running fires occurring on forest, marsh, field, cutover or other lands or involving farm, city or village property and improvements...” (WS 26.11). This broad definition obviously covers the types of burning activities which concern restoration ecologists.

Although much of the DNR regulations are focused on preventing forest fires, the DNR also recognizes that “prescribed burning reduces unwanted vegetation and logging debris. It prepares sites for tree planting or direct seeding. And it reduces the potential for destructive wildfires by reducing fuel accumulations.”

As far as burning regulations are concerned, four types of areas in the state are recognized: intensive, extensive, cooperative, and municipal. See the map below for details.

Intensive fire control areas

In Intensive Protection Areas the DNR is responsible for forest fire control. These areas are the most heavily forested and contain the most fire hazards and risk (red areas in the map). They have more DNR fire suppression resources and ranger stations. Fire detection is accomplished with fire towers, aerial detection, and citizen reporting. The most restrictive burning laws are in effect. These laws are regulated by the DNR and require a burning permit whenever the ground is not snow covered throughout the year.

The Intensive Protection Areas are primarily in the northern part of the state. Also classified as intensive is a large area centered on Necedah. (See map) Note that in these areas burning permits are required at any time the ground is not snow covered, except inside incorporated villages or cities. Permits can be obtained from local emergency fire wardens and DNR field stations.

Extensive fire control areas

The DNR is also responsible for forest fire control in Extensive Protection Areas. These are less forested than intensive areas and have fewer DNR suppression resources and ranger stations. Hazards and risk are still high in these areas. Fire detection is accomplished with aerial detection and citizen reporting. Burning is regulated by the DNR and except within incorporated villages and cities permits are needed whenever the ground is not snow covered from January 1 through May 31 (and other times when the department so orders). Daytime permits can be obtained from local emergency fire wardens and DNR ranger stations upon submission of a prescribed burn plan.

The Extensive Fire Protection Areas are predominantly along the lower and middle Wisconsin River drainage, and include the Dodgeville and Waupaca Dispatch Groups. (See map)


Cooperative fire control areas

Some parts of the state are not sufficiently forested and do not contain the hazards and risks necessary to warrant intensive or extensive fire protection. These areas are designated as Cooperative Fire Protection Areas. DNR ranger stations and suppression resources are not located in these areas. Town chairpersons have the responsibility for suppressing forest fires. This is accomplished through the local fire departments, with the DNR only providing technical and financial assistance. The town board regulates burning and restrictions vary throughout the state.

Included here are vast areas of the state in the southern, south-central, southeast, northeast, and west central parts of the states. (White areas on the map) In these areas burning permits are issued by the town chairperson or other appointed wardens. There is great variability here in how burning is regulated. Many towns do not regulate at all and permits are not required. Some entities do not even want to be notified if a controlled burn is to take place. Suppression is carried out by the local fire department (rural or municipal).

Incorporated cities and villages

Burning permits may be required by local ordinances, and permits are issued by local government officials or fire departments, which should be contacted for information. Regulation of controlled burning may be stricter in cities and villages than in towns, although there is considerable variation across the state. In many cases incorporated areas regulate burning not because of potential fire hazard, but due to air pollution concerns.

Fire Management Dispatch Groups


In the Intensive and Extensive fire control areas, the state is divided into a number of Fire Management Dispatch Groups (named in the county-by-county table below). These are groups named from the community in which the central office is located. Within each Dispatch Group, a number of separate Fire Response Units (FRUs) have been established. For instance, the Dodgeville Group has FRUs at Spring Green, Boscobel, Richland Center, and Poynette. Burning permits are issued at each FRU for locations in its area.


Daytime and evening permits

           As mentioned above, two kinds of burn permits are issued, one for fires started after 6:00 P.M., and one for daytime fires.

           Daytime permits must be obtained through the local FRU. These are issued based on submitted prescribed burn plans and can be written for the whole spring burn season. However, specific verbal authorization must be obtained on the morning of the day on which the burn is to be carried out. The authorization is obtained by telephone either from the responsible fire ranger or through the regional dispatch group.

           The rationale for the 6:00 P.M. permit is that in the evening humidity is generally higher and winds are lighter, making the burn less hazardous. Under most cases, an “after 6:00 P.M. permit” can be written by a local fire warden without prior approval of the DNR in the FRU. These permits are written for a whole year. However, the holder must call the DNR hotline (1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876) or access the burning restriction web site (dnr.wi.gov/wisburn) to ensure that burning is permitted on that day. Regulation is done on a county by county basis, and the information is updated after 11 AM daily.

The local fire department

            In cooperative and incorporated areas, the local fire department has the responsibility if a controlled burn gets out of hand. In intensive and extensive fire control areas, the local fire department works closely with the DNR to suppress fires. In all cases it is essential that the local fire department be notified ahead of time that a prescribed burn is to take place. In these days of widespread use of cellular telephones and the 911 emergency system, dispatching agencies occasionally receive 911 calls from citizens reporting not only wildfires but also controlled burns. Even if the local fire department has been notified ahead of time of an upcoming burn, it is still required to respond to a 911 call, but may not need to mobilize its full forces.



Summary

Area (see map)
Requirements
Cooperative
No DNR burning permit required. However, the township may have its own permit system or other burning regulations. Check with the Town Chairman.
Extensive
Burning permits required from January 1 through May 31 whenever the ground is not snow covered.
Intensive
Burning permits required all year long whenever the ground is not snow covered.


Procedures for specific locations


A large amount of information on the DNR forest fire program is available on the DNR web site. This link is a useful entry point. This web page provides a county-level table and map of the whole state. By clicking on an appropriate area one can determine how that area is regulated and obtain telephone numbers and other information.

I have summarized in the table below the information from this web site for the whole state on a county by county basis. This table is only intended to give an overview. It is strongly recommended that the DNR web site be accessed to obtain specific information on a particular county, or part of a county. If the area to be burned is within one of the Dispatch Groups, the web site will give telephone numbers where further information can be obtained.

Some counties are only partially regulated by the DNR

           Note that some counties have split designations so that parts may be under DNR control and others are only under local control. The map above shows those counties.

For instance, in Dane County only a few townships in the northwest part are under DNR control: Berry; Black Earth; Mazomanie; Roxbury; and Vermont; with only a small part of Blue Mounds (north fragment only). All other townships in Dane County are under local control. Those under DNR control are heavily forested. The table below should be consulted for information on a specific county.

Fire Response Units by County

County

Fire Response Unit
Type of area
Adams
Wisconsin Rapids Dispatch Group
Intensive
Ashland (south east)
Park Falls Dispatch Group
Intensive
Ashland (north west)
Brule Dispatch Group
Intensive
Ashland (Chequamegon N.F.)
U.S. Forest Service

Barron (most))
Cooperative Area
Coop
Barron (east)
Park Falls Dispatch Group
Intensive
Barron (north)
Cumberland Dispatch Group
Intensive
Bayfield (except south)
Brule Dispatch Group
Intensive
Bayfield (Chequamegon N.F.)
U.S. Forest Service

Brown
Cooperative Area
Coop
Buffalo
Cooperative Area
Coop
Burnett (small area south)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Burnett (most)
Cumberland Dispatch Group
Intensive
Calumet
Cooperative Area
Coop
Chippewa (part)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Chippewa (north)
Black River Falls Dispatch Group
Intensive
Clark (part)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Clark (west and south)
Black River Falls Dispatch Group
Intensive
Columbia
Dodgeville Dispatch Group
Extensive
Columbia (small area in northwest)
Wisconsin Rapids Dispatch Group
Intensive
Crawford
Dodgeville Dispatch Group
Extensive
Dane (most)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Dane (north west)
Dodgeville Dispatch Group
Extensive
Dodge
Cooperative Area
Coop
Door
Cooperative Area
Coop
Douglas
Brule Dispatch Group
Intensive
Dunn
Cooperative Area
Coop
Eau Claire (most)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Eau Claire (east)
Black River Falls Dispatch Group
Intensive
Florence (east)
Peshtigo Dispatch Group
Intensive
Florence (Nicolet N.F.)
U.S. Forest Service

Fond du Lac
Cooperative Area
Coop
Forest (south west)
Woodruff Dispatch Group
Intensive
Forest (south)
Peshtigo Dispatch Group
Intensive
Forest (Nicolet N.F.)
U.S. Forest Service

Grant (most)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Grant (north))
Dodgeville Dispatch Group
Extensive
Green
Cooperative Area
Coop
Green Lake
Waupaca Dispatch Group
Extensive
Iowa (south)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Iowa (north)
Dodgeville Dispatch Group
Extensive
Iron
Brule Dispatch Group
Intensive
Jackson (part)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Jackson (east and north)
Black River Falls Dispatch Group
Intensive
Jefferson
Cooperative Area
Coop
Juneau (part)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Juneau (north and east)
Wisconsin Rapids Dispatch Group
Intensive
Kenosha
Cooperative Area
Coop
Kewaunee
Cooperative Area
Coop
La Crosse
Cooperative Area
Coop
Lafayette
Cooperative Area
Coop
Langlade (east)
Peshtigo Dispatch Group
Intensive
Langlade (west)
Woodruff Dispatch Group
Intensive
Lincoln
Woodruff Dispatch Group
Intensive
Manitowoc
Cooperative Area
Coop
Marathon (west)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Marathon (north)
Woodruff Dispatch Group
Intensive
Marathon (south and east)
Wisconsin Rapids Dispatch Group
Intensive
Marinette
Peshtigo Dispatch Group
Intensive
Marquette
Waupaca Dispatch Group
Extensive
Menominee
Waupaca Dispatch Group
Extensive
Milwaukee
Cooperative Area
Coop
Monroe (south)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Monroe (north)
Black River Falls Dispatch Group
Intensive
Oconto
Peshtigo Dispatch Group
Extensive
Oneida
Woodruff Dispatch Group
Intensive
Outagamie
Cooperative Area
Coop
Ozaukee
Cooperative Area
Coop
Pepin
Cooperative Area
Coop
Pierce
Cooperative Area
Coop
Polk (small area in north)
Cumberland Dispatch Group
Intensive
Polk (most)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Portage
Wisconsin Rapids Dispatch Group
Extensive
Price (part)
Park Falls Dispatch Group
Intensive
Price (Chequamegon N.F.)
U.S. Forest Service

Racine
Cooperative Area
Coop
Richland
Dodgeville Dispatch Group
Extensive
Rock
Cooperative Area
Coop
Rusk
Park Falls Dispatch Group
Intensive
Sauk (Delton and Dellona Townships)
Wisconsin Rapids Dispatch Group
Intensive
Sauk (most of county)
Dodgeville Dispatch Group
Extensive
Sawyer (part)
Park Falls Dispatch Group
Intensive
Sawyer (Chequamegon N.F.)
U.S. Forest Service

Shawano (east)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Shawano (west)
Waupaca Dispatch Group
Intensive
Sheboygan
Cooperative Area
Coop
St. Croix
Cooperative Area
Coop
Taylor
Park Falls Dispatch Group
Intensive
Trempealeau
Cooperative Area
Coop
Vernon
Cooperative Area
Coop
Vilas (part)
Woodruff Dispatch Group
Intensive
Vilas (Nicolet N.F.)
U.S. Forest Service
Coop
Walworth
Cooperative Area
Coop
Washburn
Cumberland Dispatch Group
Intensive
Washington
Cooperative Area
Coop
Waukesha
Cooperative Area
Coop
Waupaca
Waupaca Dispatch Group
Extensive
Waushara
Waupaca Dispatch Group
Extensive
Winnebago
Cooperative Area
Coop
Wood (north)
Cooperative Area
Coop
Wood (south)
Wisconsin Rapids Dispatch Group
Intensive



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