80-Acre Wildfire In Juneau County Evacuates Homes

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – The Warthog Fire is threatening at least 40 homes in Kingston and Mather, portions of Highway 173 are also closed.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fire crews and local agencies are on the scene of a roughly 80-acre and growing. Called the “Warthog Fire” it’s burning in Juneau County, where an estimated 40 homes are being evacuated in the town of Kingston and the community of Mather. Portions of County Highway 173 are also closed, as of 5:30 p.m.

Officials say the fire originated in the Town of Cutler and is moving into the Town of Kingston, near the community of Mather. Evacuations are occurring in the vicinity of the growing wildfire. No injuries have been reported. The cause of the wildfire is still under investigation.

The fire is traveling in the northeast direction and is burning in pine and marsh grass. Crews are making progress on containment, but it is too early to predict when firefighters will have the wildfire under control.  

Eleven engines, six tractor plows, two air attack planes and two Wisconsin Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopters are working the fire. Several local fire departments and local law enforcement are assisting with evacuations. Homeowners and businesses will be notified by emergency personnel on scene if they are in the impacted area. 

The Southwest District Incident Management Team has been activated, and the command post has been set up at the DNR Tomah Ranger Station. Several more DNR resources have been ordered to the fire.   

Today’s weather conditions resulted in critical fire danger, with DNR suspending outdoor burning. Contributing factors include warm temperatures, very low relative humidity and windy conditions.

On just Monday alone, 25 wildfires started and burned a total of 205 acres and counting. Bringing the current year totals to near 2,500 acres from 767 fires.