80-Acre Wildfire In Juneau County Now Controlled; Homeowners Safe To Return

Update: As of 6:40 p.m. on Monday, May 12, the fire is controlled, and people can safely return to their homes. Suppression resources are making good progress with containment lines, limiting rapid fire spread and looking for interior pockets of active fire while reinforcing containment lines. 

The fire's behavior is anticipated to moderate into the evening hours and crews are starting to transition to night operations with patrol and mop-up being the main focus. 

The Southwest District Incident Management Team has been cancelled. The Blackhawks are refueling and available to make a few more drops to help reinforce containment lines before returning to base.   

In total, the fire burned approximately 80 acres. The original release is below for reference. No other information is available at this time. 

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fire crews and local agencies are on the scene of a roughly 80-acre and growing Warthog Fire in Juneau County, where an estimated 40 homes are being evacuated in the town of Kingston and the community of Mather. Portions of County Highway 173 are also closed, as of 5:30 p.m.

Officials say the fire originated in the town of Cutler and is moving into the town of Kingston, near the community of Mather. Evacuations are occurring in the vicinity of the growing wildfire. No injuries have been reported. The cause of the wildfire is still under investigation.

The fire is traveling in the northeast direction and is burning in pine and marsh grass. Crews are making progress on containment, but it is too early to predict when firefighters will have the wildfire under control.  

Eleven engines, six tractor plows, two air attack planes and two Wisconsin Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopters are working the fire. Several local fire departments and local law enforcement are assisting with evacuations. Homeowners and businesses will be notified by emergency personnel on scene if they are in the impacted area. 

The Southwest District Incident Management Team has been activated, and the command post has been set up at the DNR Tomah Ranger Station. Several more DNR resources have been ordered to the fire.   

Today’s weather conditions resulted in critical fire danger, with DNR suspending outdoor burning in the area. Contributing factors include warm temperatures, very low relative humidity and windy conditions.

For the most current fire situation, check the DNR Facebook page or check current fire danger, wildfire reports and burning restrictions on the DNR website.