Elevated fire risk this week

Wisconsin officials ask residents statewide to avoid burning this week due to an elevated risk of out-of-control fires. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources predicts elevated fire weather concerns for the early part of this week due to lack of rainfall, low humidity and breezy conditions.  All southwest Wisconsin counties are listed as being at high fire risk, and the public consequently is advised against all burns to minimize the risk of uncontrolled fires. On windy, dry days, embers from any fire — especially burn piles and campfires — can escape control easily and cause a wildfire if not properly extinguished, the DNR said. The DNR already has responded to over 80 wildfires in the past week across the state, for a total of 244 responses this year.