Safety
- News
Extreme Fire Danger Friday, May 15, 2026
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in conjunction with the National Weather Service, has issued a Red Flag Warning for today, Friday, May 15, 2026 from noon to 9 p.m. for the following counties: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, Vilas and Washburn. A Red Flag Warning is issued when a variety of weather factors come together to create especially dangerous wildland fire conditions. Warm temperatures, very low humidity, gusty winds and exceptionally dry fuels from lack of precipitation in the region are forecast and can result in catastrophic fires.
- News
Wisconsin Experiencing Critical Fire Danger May 14-16
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asks the public to avoid outdoor burning activities, as fire danger has reached Critical levels across Northern and Western Wisconsin Thursday, May 14 through the evening of Saturday, May 16.
- News
DNR Reopens Newville Boat Launch Along Rock River After Flooding
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has reopened the Newville boat launch in Rock County, effectively immediately, after being closed on April 20 due to dangerously high water levels. Water levels on the Rock River have receded and the launch can now be safely accessed by the public.
- News
Wisconsin Experiencing Elevated Fire Danger Monday, May 4
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asks the public to avoid outdoor burning activities, as fire danger is Very High across much of the state and DNR burn permits are suspended in 43 counties.
- News
Wisconsin Experiencing Very High Fire Danger Thursday, April 23
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asks the public to check fire conditions and avoid outdoor burning activities, as fire danger is Very High across nearly the entire state. So far in 2026, 283 wildfires have burned 704 acres of land.
- News
Extreme Fire Danger Wednesday, April 22, 2026
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in conjunction with the National Weather Service, has issued a Red Flag Warning for today, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from 2 to 8 p.m. for the following counties in northwest Wisconsin: Burnett and Washburn.
- News
Debris From Recent Storms And Dry Forecast Increase Risk Of Wildfires
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asks the public to check fire danger and burn permit restrictions before conducting outdoor burning activities, as the spring fire season is underway and recent storms have increased the amount of debris on the landscape across much of Wisconsin.
- News
Columbia County Floodwaters Drop, Emergency Operations Center Winds Down
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that floodwaters in the Portage area continue to recede and are predicted to drop further over the next several days. The DNR will continue to monitor water levels as the Columbia County Emergency Operation Center returns to normal operations and damages are assessed.
- News
Flood Waters Begin To Recede At Portage; Road Closures Remain, Well Water Testing Offered
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the Wisconsin River at Portage peaked at 20.47 feet in the afternoon yesterday, April 16, 2026, nearly reaching the highest water level on record of 20.66 feet. While the river level did not set a new record and currently rests at 19.9 feet, it did impact several areas of the Caledonia-Lewiston levee, prompting the evacuation of the Blackhawk neighborhood, and raised enough concern to sandbag a 2-mile stretch of I-39 at the Highway 33 exit.
- News
Historic Flooding Of Wisconsin River Threatens Portage Community; Critical Infrastructure At Risk
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that local officials are responding to historic flooding along the Wisconsin River as water levels continue to rise, placing significant strain on levee systems and threatening to breach in the Portage area. There is concern regarding the integrity of the Caledonia Levee, south of Highway 33 near Blackhawk Park.