Recent wildfires in Minnesota and Wisconsin highlight the threat
to homes and property in communities across the Midwest.
According to news reports, the Germann Road Fire in Douglas and
Bayfield Counties in northwest Wisconsin burned 9,000 acres
while just across the border in northern Minnesota, the Green
Valley Fire has consumed more than 7,000 acres. Dry and windy
conditions continue to contribute to an outbreak of wildfires
across both states, and many homes and commercial properties
remain under threat. The Germann Road Fire is one of the largest
Wisconsin has seen in the last couple of decades, according to
the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Red-flag warnings
have been issued across most of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and
residents are being urged to use extreme caution when
participating in outdoor activities including camping. Many
local residents, however, have already taken steps to reduce
their wildfire risk. Using proven principles for wildfire
safety, 15 communities in Wisconsin and 14 i