Controlled Burning Requirements

Photo by Phil Millette/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo

Controlled burning with prescribed fire is the intentional application of fire to a specific pre-planned area, under specific environmental conditions and parameters (the prescription), to accomplish planned land management objectives.  Prescribed fire benefits native plants, wildlife, people, agriculture productivity, and helps to reduce unplanned wildfire.  Without the use of prescribed burning as a management tool, Wisconsin could lose many of its native grassland, wetland and savanna plant communities.  The following information is what Town of Holland residents need to know to make prescribed fire controlled burns a success.

Requirements:

• Understand Town of Holland Outdoor Burning, Open Burning and Refuse Burning Ordinance #3-2008.
• Submit a Burn Plan to the Holmen Area Fire Department Fire Chief (via following submittal form or in-person) detailing the prescribed fire. Visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources page on Prescribed Fire to find resources and links to prescribed burn plans.  Allow 48 hours for proper review of submitted burn plan.
• Obtain a Burning Permit from the Holmen Area Fire Department. A Burning Permit will only be issued after review and approval of the submitted Burn Plan.
• Understand the Fire Chief or designee, or any Law Enforcement Officer, is authorized to require prescribed fires be immediately discontinued if found in violation of local ordinance, or if a Fire Official or Law Enforcement Officer determines that the prescribe fire constitutes a hazardous or nuisance condition. Any person or persons who fail to comply with these conditions may be issued a citation.
• Prescribed fires may be suspended when the Holmen Area Fire Department Fire Chief has declared a burning ban. In general, this is in concert when the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources classifies La Crosse County at the Very High or Extreme Fire Danger level.

Liability:

Wisconsin has a strict liability statute that makes the person who ignites a fire financially responsible for any costs associated with extinguishing a resulting wildfire, as well as damage that fire causes, even if the burning was done in accordance with the burn plan and local ordinance.  This is an absolute standard that does not require hostile intent or even negligence. The mere fact that a person lights a fire makes him or her responsible for the fire until it is completely extinguished.