Area firefighters scrambled to extinguish five fires that were reported throughout Dodge County within two hours Thursday afternoon.
Dodge County Central Dispatch has received an average of six reported fires a day for the past two weeks, prompting the Dodge County Fire Chiefs Association to issue a fire danger advisory.
Fires that start as controlled burns have routinely grown out of control due to dry conditions and moderate wind.
Dodge County Emergency Management Director Joe Meagher said Wednesday that no open flame is safe outdoors until further notice.
Fires reported Thursday were as follows:
- At 12:09 p.m. in the town of Emmet a controlled burn at W7507 Provimi Road got out of control and burned five acres, with some exposure to a house. The Watertown Fire Department responded.
- At 12:19 p.m. in the town of Lebanon a controlled burn got out of control near a pole shed at W1091 Poplar Grove. Lebanon firefighters responded.
- At 12:51 p.m. in the town of Ashippun a controlled burn got out of control at W601 Lincoln Road. Ashippun firefighters responded.
- At 1:24 in the town of Lowell a controlled burn got out of control and burned a WE Energies power pole. Reeseville and Lowell firefighters responded.
- At 2:29 p.m. in the town of a Herman a controlled burn at W720 Buchanan Road got out of control. Woodland and Hartford firefighters responded.
Meagher reminds citizens that they are responsible for any personal injuries or property damage that results from out-of-hand controlled burns.