Many areas in the Northland are still at risk for wildfires. Over 90% of wildfires are caused by humans during very dry conditions. One unintentional spark in these conditions could result in thousands of charred acres and property damage. The Minnesota and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources say people can prevent wildfires right in the backyard.

Michael Warnke, a Wildfire Administration Supervisor with the Minnesota DNR, says one way to prevent wildfires is by not burning yard waste this fall season.

“We’re at the point with conditions where really anything can start a fire right now. Especially looking forward here into the weekend, and over the next eight to ten days,” Warnke said. “It doesn’t look like things get any better anytime soon.”

Catherine Koele, a Wildfire Prevention Specialist with the Wisconsin DNR, says another thing to watch for is improper ash disposal.

“A lot of times folks will clean out their ashes from their wood stoves and then just throw those embers into the woods. We’ve been seeing an uptick in some of those fires as well,” Koele said. “So if you’re going to dispose of those ashes, put them in a metal bucket and a tight fitting lid. Make sure those are completely out before you dispose of those into the outdoors.”

While sometimes the best way to fight fire is with fire through prescribed burns. Tom Hall, the Forest Supervisor with the Superior National Forest, says, right now, there’s just too much risk.

“So we do have prescribed fires that we look to ignite during the right times of year. Right now in these fire restrictions that is not a time for us to do be doing prescribed burning,” Hall said.

“But in the spring we definitely do prescribe burning. Sometimes in the fall we look as well, but you know this fall is just not the right conditions for us to be doing prescribed burning.”

So what can people do instead of having a backyard fire to get rid of any dead leaves, grass clippings, or yard waste? Dori Decker has worked at the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District for the past three years. She says composting yard waste is a lot easier and more environmentally sustainable.

“So, as leaves break down, they provide nutrients and organic matter back to the soil. So, it’s actually enriching the soil,” Decker said. “If you just leave the leaves right on your yard, you can mow them if you’d like, just to kind of chop them up a little bit more. But leaving them on the yard is a great way to reuse that resource.”

If people are trying to get rid of any invasive plants this fall season, like garlic mustard, make sure to cover the plants really well before bringing them to WLSSD so they can be properly disposed of.  For more information about how to prevent wildfires by composting you can read more here. Also for more stories during fire prevention week you can read more here.