MADISON – A high risk of wildfire exists today and Wednesday, the state Department of Natural Resources advised while urging residents to avoid burning leaves or brush.

Dry conditions over the winter, recent warm temperatures and low humidity plus breezy conditions create conditions conducive to wildfires, the DNR said.

“On windy, dry days, embers from any fire, especially burn piles and campfires, can easily escape control and cause a wildfire if not properly extinguished,” said a release from the agency.

“If you plan to spend time outdoors this week, the DNR asks you to avoid all outdoor burning, including debris burning and limiting the use of campfires and bonfires. Be sure to discard hot ashes from woodstoves or fireplaces in a metal container until cold. Outdoor enthusiasts should also use caution with any off-road vehicles or equipment that can create a spark and start a fire. “

Though rain is forecasted for some parts of the state Wednesday, the northern part of Wisconsin will likely remain dry, keeping the fire risk high.

As of Tuesday morning, there were two active wildfires, one in Pierce County and another in Adams County.

So far this year, there have been 201 wildfires in Wisconsin, burning nearly 383 acres, according to the DNR Fire Management Dashboard. In the last week alone, there were 57 wildfires in the state. At this point last year, the DNR had only responded to seven wildfires, according to the release.

The large majority of the fires were caused by debris burning or equipment.

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X at @SchulteLaura.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: DNR warns of elevated wildfire risk Tuesday and Wednesday