The Merrill Fire Department along with the Wisconsin DNR responded to the area of W5719 Tug Lake Avenue, in the Town of Rock Falls shortly after noon on Monday, for a reported wild land fire in a wooded area, yards away from the owner’s cabin.
Upon arrival Merrill units which included Engine 1, Brush 6 and Medic 1 entered the wooded area to the south off of Tug Lake Ave., they encountered a wild land fire that was burning just over a half an acre, only yards from the cabin and two outbuildings. Merrill crews quickly extinguished the fire and protected the structures, with assistance from the Wisconsin DNR. There was some minor charring to the exterior of both of the out buildings, while the cabin sustained no damage.
The owner stated he had dumped out ash from the fireplace from the day before earlier in the day, the ash likely contained some hot embers which spread into the dry leaves and wooded area near the cabin. Fire personnel were on scene for about an hour, the Wisconsin DNR remained on the scene checking on hotspots.
No injuries were reported form the incident. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department was also on scene.
Assistant Fire Chief Steve Hintze reminds the public “to be extremely careful during these dry conditions that are present due to the lack of rainfall, especially with the close of the green season in our area and the large amount of dry vegetation now on the ground.”