Elevated fire risk is a good time to revisit fire safety with the La Crosse Fire Department
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – Many Western Wisconsin counties have been issuing burn bans due to dry conditions that have been affecting a large portion of the state. First News at Nine’s Dashal Mentzel speaks with experts about why people need to be on high alert when it comes to fire danger.
La Crosse County is one of many counties that have had burn bans issued over the last few weeks. La Crosse Fire Department Community Risk Educator, Molly McCormick, says the Winter weather has played a big role in the high fire risk this Spring, “We had a pretty mild winter. And so, with that lack of snowfall, that lack of snowpack, it’s going to make sure that our soil is pretty dry.”
McCormick says this year’s Spring fire activity is much higher than last year’s, due to the weather and water levels, “Last spring we had record high levels of water. The Mississippi was at the third-highest crest that it had ever seen. On the flip side, this year we have a really dry year and we want to make sure that people are again staying informed, getting prepared and that we’re ready to act for it.”
McCormick wants the public to be aware of the elevated fire risk and to have the necessary equipment on them, like cell phones to call their local fire departments, “Being prepared means that you’re going to have water nearby, that you’re going to have a shovel nearby, that you’re going to have a cover to go over your fire pit. If you’re getting your grill out, the same things can be helpful. If things were to get a little bit out of control, you want to have the tools ready to act.”
Although the city of La Crosse lifted its burn ban Tuesday morning (4/16/24) because of the weather, McCormick says there could be more burn bans in the near future, “Even though we’ve got rain right now and we’ll have rain over the next 36 hours, we’re going to go back to seeing those dry, really lovely spring weather. Ultimately, there’s not enough moisture in the ground right now. It’s going to dry out fast and we’ll be right back into those higher risk situations.”
McCormick adds the department has been busy recently, responding to multiple fires over the weekend. In La Crosse, Dashal Mentzel First News at Nine. McCormick says that fires need three things to survive, which are oxygen, heat, and fuel such as dead grass. Current statewide fire conditions can be found on the WISBURN website or by calling 1-888-WIS-BURN.
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