Final Summary Released On Waushara County Wildfire

***PHOTO SUBMITTED BY TRACE FROST***

Just over 8 tenths of an inch of much needed rain fell over the area yesterday. A low pressure system and associated cold front slowly drifted over the region bringing a long duration of steady rain to our area and severe weather with a couple tornadoes to the Chicago metro area.

The rain was enough to bring the wildfire danger down from the high category to the low category.

During the dry spell, at least 12 wildfires burned in central Wisconsin, including a major fire in Waushara County.

The DNR released a final summary on that fire saying 730 acres were burned.

The fire, which started Monday, July 10th, was determined to be caused by a controlled burn that occurred several days earlier, but was never fully extinguished. Strong winds Monday rekindled the fire and embers blew into some dry vegetation igniting the surrounding area.

According to the DNR summary, it took 23 hours to gain 100% containment on the fire. Three homes, and 16 outbuildings were destroyed with another Four being damaged.
In addition to the buildings, several cars, boats and machinery were destroyed.

About 100 residences in and around the fire were evacuated, and 206 total firefighters responded to the scene utilizing 30 engines and 29 bull dozers.

Firefighting efforts are being credited in saving several houses in the fires footprint that likely would have burned without their efforts.