There will be no campfires at Bong until further notice, due to extreme dry conditions.
Wisconsin’s continuing drought and existing high fire threat conditions have prompted officials to extending the emergency burning restrictions to Jackson, Monroe, Waupaca, Wood, Portage and Waushara counties and additional portions of Adams and Juneau counties.
Campfires also will be banned in four Wisconsin State Parks: Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Lapham Peak unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest, Richard Bong State Recreation Area and Big Foot Beach State Park.
The extended Emergency Burning Restrictions and the park campfire bans are effective Friday, July 13 at 12:01 a.m. These restrictions will be in effect until further notice.
Emergency burning restrictions now are in effect in all of Crawford, Richland, Sauk, Columbia, Marquette, Green Lake and portions of Iowa, Grant, Dane, Adams and Juneau counties. The restrictions apply to DNR protection areas outside incorporated cities and villages in these counties.
Under Emergency Burning Restrictions, burning of any combustible material outdoors is prohibited until further notice.
This includes:
• all fireworks (restricted and non-restricted);
• combustible material in a burn pile or burn barrel, including grass or wooded areas (all DNR burn permits suspended);
• campfires with the exception of developed camping areas within a metal fire ring;
outdoor disposal of ashes, charcoal briquettes, matches or any burning material; and
smoking a cigar, cigarette, or pipe, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.
State fire control officials caution that fire danger is increasing outside the restricted areas as well and that burn permits may be suspended in other areas in days to come.
For the most current fire danger information in Wisconsin and a detailed look at the areas under Emergency Burning Restrictions, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/ForestFire/. Otherwise, residents and tourists are encouraged to contact their local DNR office or local fire department, town or municipal officials for more information on local fire restrictions.
Visitor safety is top priority in parks:
Cooking still will be allowed but is restricted to charcoal cooking fires in campsite metal fire rings, self-contained portable grills, and permanently mounted picnic grills.
Properties will provide a metal or concrete container to dispose of ash generated from self-contained portable grills and permanently mounted picnic grills outside of campgrounds. Gas cooking stoves will be allowed.
Outdoor smoking of a pipe, cigarette or cigar also is banned on these park properties. Smoking is allowed inside a vehicle with disposal of all burning materials in a non-combustible receptacle or ashtray