By Shereen Siewert
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ fire crews are on the scene of an approximately more than 200-acre wildfire at the Necedah Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County, according to a news release issued Saturday.
Meanwhile, crews from Wood County and Necedah Fire are battling a second fire in the town of Armenia off 24th Avenue, officials said.
Evacuations are underway along 17th Street and Hwy. 80 where structures are in the path of the blaze, which is burning in lowland and marsh areas. About four or five structures have been threatened but have so far not been impacted by the fire, DNR officials said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
As of late Saturday afternoon the Juneau County fire is contained and crews are developing a plan to ensure control of the blaze.
DNR’s Southwest District Incident Management Team (SWD IMT) has been activated and the command post has been set up at the Necedah Village Town Hall. County emergency management officials along with local law enforcement agencies, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and fire departments from Necedah, Cutler, Armenia, New Lisbon are also on scene. In addition to fire trucks working from the ground, 3 single engine air tanker planes are fighting the fire from the air.
Fire danger is very high, officials said. Warm weather, low humidity and wind contributed to the spread of the blaze.
Burning permits remain suspended. No injuries have been reported.
For the most current fire situation and evacuation information, follow @WIDNR on Facebook or @WDNR on Twitter or visit dnr.wi.gov, search “fire” for current wildfire activity.
Top image courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
