Wisconsin governor declares state of emergency over wildfires

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) has declared a state of emergency due to wildfires in the state.

The executive order signed Monday comes as more than 320 wildfires have burned 1,400 acres of land throughout The Badger State so far in 2021.

Evers’s order allows the state’s National Guard to help the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources respond to fires by deploying Blackhawk helicopters to help suppress fires from the air.

“With nearly the entire state experiencing high or very high fire risk, protecting Wisconsinites from the destructive dangers of wildfires is a top priority,” Evers said in a statement.

“The ability of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to have all available resources ready to be quickly dispatched is a critical element in keeping fires small and achieving swift containment.”

Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources reported a total of 782 wildfires that burned 1,630 acres of land in 2020.

Fire officials expect this wildfire season to be much longer due to snow melting earlier around the state.