Superior National Forest Seeks Federal Funding to Fight Wildfires

Superior National Forest officials are looking for federal funding to help prevent wildfires amid high fire danger warnings.

The United States Department of Agriculture has made an additional $100 million of funding available for wildfire risk reduction across the country. Officials with the Superior National Forest have applied for $20 million of that funding.

USDA officials have also noted that the forest is significantly susceptible to wildfires, particularly with the lack of typical snowy conditions over the winter. Those officials say nearly 200,000 acres of the forest are at a high risk for wildfires. The forest covers about 4 million acres in total.

Officials would be able to use the funding for essentially anything from undertaking prescribed burns to ward off larger wildfires to spreading community awareness about the wildfire conditions. The funding could also be used to ensure nearby residents have safe ways to evacuate from their communities should a dangerous wildfire begin to spread there.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has constantly updated their wildfire danger map over previous weeks, and have been warning that the northern regions of the state are at a very high risk of wildfires. DNR officials have also warned that the warm winter has moved the timeline for a typical wildfire season in Wisconsin earlier.

Superior National Forest officials say if they do receive the additional available funding, they will work with state, county, and tribal leaders to plan for minimizing the effects of the expected wildfires. Applications for the funds are due by April 15.