Falls Burning Ban Continues, Governor Declares State of Emergency

Summer is traditionally the time we gather around a crackling fire and roast S’mores and tell ghost stories. However, this summer is the exception.

A burning ban throughout Menomonee Falls continues to stay in effect, and it will likely remain in place for quite some time as a substantial rainfall isn’t in the forecast this week. Furthermore, Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday declared a state of emergency for Waukesha County and 41 other counties throughout the state due to the dry conditions.

The governor’s declaration pertains mostly to farmers, and it allows them to expedite the permitting process with the Department of Natural Resources in order to utilize stream or lake water for irrigation.

"The lack of rainfall since May in the southern half of the state has hit hard in a crucial part of the growing season," Walker said.  "Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service reports this week that most of the land in these counties is short or very short of soil moisture, and this week's U.S. Drought Monitor for the first time reported the southern tiers of Wisconsin counties to be in drought.”

An open burning ban in Falls has been in place since June 14 and will be for an unforeseen length of time. Violators of the order face a $177 penalty. However, the consequences of failing to comply could be more catastrophic.

“Grassfires that are sparking in the county are gaining hold quickly and burning several acres at a time. It’s ripe to have fire here right now,” said Menomonee Falls Fire Department Chief Jeffrey Hevey.

Hevey said the MFFD has responded to 12 complaints of illegal burning throughout the village since the ban was set in place. Although there haven’t been significant grassfires in Menomonee Falls, the fire department has been busy over the past few weeks providing mutual aid to other area departments. On July 3, most of the department’s fire apparatus were responding to a grassfire in Lisbon rather than driving through the parade.

Hevey said he doesn’t foresee the ban getting lifted for at least another 10 days due to a dry forecast.

“We don’t see any rain coming for at least another 10 days, and it will need to be some significant rain. We are in an extremely hazardous situation for wildfires,” Hevey said.

Although the wildfires raging in Colorado may seem unique to the rugged and mountainous terrain of that state, Hevey said the natural landscape in Menomonee Falls is just as problematic.

“Anywhere west of Marcy Road and Town Hall Road and a little bit farther north are areas of concern. That area of the village has a lot of tall grass, and that can create potential problems,” Hevey said.

He added that it could take the MFFD 7 to 12 minutes to reach the farthest corners of the village to respond to a fire, which is plenty of time for an area to spread out of control.

In order to prevent a disaster from occurring in your neighborhood, Hevey provided the following tips to safeguard your home:

• Keep a nozzled garden hose on the ready to defend yourself from a fire should it occur until the MFFD can respond.
• Trim tall grasses near the home, and remove dead foliage from you yard. A typical ignition zone on a property begins within 30 feet of a home, and extends up to 200 feet away.
• Trim off low branches on pine trees. A fire can catch on low branches and quickly turn a coniferous tree into a giant candle, Hevey said. Branches should be at least 6 to 10 feet high.