Cottonville fire Is Wisconsin's largest in more than 25 years

By JENNIFER RABUCK

When people think of large wildfires, Wisconsin isn't the first state that comes to mind. In fact, unless you think far back — to 1872 and the 3.7-million acre Peshtigo Fire that claimed more than 1,200 lives — you might completely overlook the Dairy State. But make no mistake: Wisconsin has fuels and therefore, wildfires. In 1980, two fires burned in northern Wisconsin at the same time, eventually consuming a total of 16,000 acres and 200 buildings. Approximately every 10 years, the state plays host to a wildfire that may consume more than 500 acres, and in any given year, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) suppression resources respond to an average of 1,600 wildland fires with a combined total of 3,400 acres (just over two acres per fire). Nearly all wildfires in Wisconsin are human-caused. Combine that with the growing number of people living and enjoying the woodlands of Wisconsin, and the stage is set for disaster. Such a disaster occurred this year with the Cottonwood Fire.

A Typical May Day
Just after 1330 hrs on May 5, the Adams County Sheriff's Department received a 9-1-1 call for a grass fire burning out of control. It was a "typical" May day in the state — sunny and 75 degrees, with winds averaging 14-mph from the southwest. Only the 18 percent relative humidity was uncharacteristically low. Within seconds, WDNR fire tower staff spotted the smoke. Rangers arrived on scene to find a rapidly spreading brush fire. Upon sizing up the location of the fire, current weather, surrounding fuels and extreme fire behavior, supervising Ranger John Schwingel activated the local incident management team. Immediately, local volunteer fire departments (VFDs) responded by providing initial structure protection. The WDNR dispatched additional resources to tend to the spreading blaze, while law-enforcement officials began the race against time to evacuate residents in the path of the fire.

Named the Cottonville Fire, the blaze burned in the sand country of central Wisconsin. Typical fuels for the area include predominantly pine species (jack, red and white pine), with some oak and a variety of brush species. The local economy is based primarily on pulpwood production for paper companies. Many large land blocks are owned by paper companies and hold single age-class pine. Other sections of land are privately held, often enrolled as tree farms, producing pine "cornfields." Portions of the land surrounding the origin of the Cottonville Fire had burned in 2001, and now held thick, dog-hair jack pine standing 5-10 feet tall. These pines allowed the fire to crawl into the nearby mature pine canopy. Pushed by strong and gusty southwest winds, the fire easily outpaced suppression efforts.

Simple Strategy
The interagency incident management team, comprised of WDNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service firefighters, set up in the Big Flats VFD and Town Hall. The incident management team divided the operations section into a structural branch and a wildfire branch. Air resources included two single-engine airtankers (SEATs) on local contract with the WDNR and a CL-215 from the Minnesota DNR. In addition, two air attack planes flew overhead, directing drops and serving as spotters for ground crews. Law-enforcement agencies from around the state worked to evacuate an expanding perimeter, eventually sealing off a 10-square-mile area. Pineland Elementary School served as an evacuation center for those displaced by the fire.

The strategy was simple: Anchor the fire near the origin and flank the fire using tractor plows. Air resources cooled the flanks for ground crews and protected structures as time permitted. Roche-A-Cri Creek, a multiple-channel river, ran in a shallow gorge just west of the fire. The goal: to keep the fire from jumping that natural barrier.

Meanwhile, the structural branch called into action a pre-existing plan that divided the area into zones. Emergency management personnel in Wisconsin created structural zones — set up to handle disaster situations and evacuations — more than 20 years ago, but the Cottonville Fire was the first time firefighters used them. Prior to the blaze, fire departments in Adams County participated in simulations using the zones; the county updated structural map books in the spring and distributed them to all of the local departments. During the Cottonville Fire, personnel activated and staffed 17 zones with a chain of command that included a zone boss, a fire department boss, a structural branch director, and the operations section chief. The pre-existing zones allowed for faster, more effective use of fire department resources and improved span of control and supervision; combined with rapid dispatch of VFD forces, they significantly minimized structural losses.

Battling a wind-driven crown fire doesn't always go according to plan. One air attack pilot estimated that the flames consistently reached 300 feet above the tops of mature pines. The fire easily crossed several township roads. As it drew closer to a county highway, firefighting crews watched to see if the road would be enough to take the wind out of the fire's sails. Standing 11/2 miles away at the incident command post (ICP), team members watched the fire easily lean over the major road, curl back up and consume fuel it had appeared to skip. Structural losses were heavy along the highway.

Assessing the Damage
Eleven hours and 3,410 acres later, firefighters contained the fire, which measured more than 11/2 miles wide and nearly 7 miles long. Although firefighting resources were able to save more than 300 structures, the fire destroyed nine primary homes, 21 secondary/seasonal homes, and 60 other buildings — with a collective insured value of well over $1 million. Forest resources lost in the fire are expected to exceed property damages fourfold. In addition, several large propane tanks vented during the blaze and numerous 20-lb. cylinders on camper-trailers exploded. Although many power lines within the fire's perimeter were underground, an estimated 25 miles of electric lines were burned, resulting in downed poles, live wires and loss of power. Fortunately, the suppression and mop-up efforts did not lead to any serious injuries; one firefighter suffered mild dehydration and two others reported eye irritations. Officials safely evacuated all local residents and property owners prior to the fire's passage.

Once firefighters contained the fire and allowed residents back into their homes, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Adams County Emergency Management counseled property owners on what to expect. Many homeowners anticipated melted siding and charred sheds. Instead, several returned to find twisted metal, blackened concrete, melted glass and little else.

Looking for Answers
Residents frequently expressed confusion over why "that place burned and not this one." One resident thought he had the answer. The local DNR ranger had included a flyer in residents' 2004 tax bills that gave property owners a list of eight FireWise tactics to help them prepare for a possible wildfire. This resident believes that because he followed the tips for his property, he was one of the fortunate ones — his structures were still standing.

Other homeowners mentioned they had been thinking of thinning their pine plantations or removing some of the vegetation from around their buildings, but few mentioned considering the risk of wildfire.

This portion of Adams County is heavily used for recreation — it is estimated that 70 percent of property owners are non-permanent residents. That figure accounts for the large number of mobile homes and camper-trailers used as seasonal residences. The majority of these structures are tucked back in small clearings in the woods, away from township roads. In most situations, building sites are minimal in size, with trees removed only during site development or if an individual tree presents a danger of falling on the structure. Few owners spend time on yard work such as mowing lawns, raking leaves and needles, pruning trees and clearing under decks. However, many structures did have some defensible space. Investigators continue to look at how site characteristics and construction materials correlate with structural survivability. 

Resolution
The Cottonville Fire started when a property owner burned grass around a fire pit; he did not have a valid WDNR burning permit. Law-enforcement officials turned the case over to the Adams County District Attorney, who charged the 54-year-old man with lighting a fire and allowing it to escape, which carries a maximum $1,000 fine and 90 days confinement. The man may also be liable for suppression costs and damages.

Wisconsin Governor James Doyle declared a state of emergency and visited the fire site on May 6 to talk with residents and tour the disaster area. American Red Cross Disaster Assessment Teams evaluated the scorched landscape and determined it was not eligible for federal disaster relief (at least 50 primary dwellings must be lost to qualify for federal relief).

One for the History Books
Wisconsin's history is closely intertwined with fire. Pre-European settlement saw frequent prairie fires, in the 1800s loggers burned slash as they cleared their way west and settlers used fire to clear land and establish home sites. Suppression has also evolved throughout Wisconsin's history, from the earliest days of bucket brigades in Peshtigo; to 1948, when conservationist Aldo Leopold died while fighting a grass fire near Baraboo; to present-day equipment and training. Following the Cottonville Fire, the careful balance between people and fire will continue to change as firefighters and residents learn more about their role in the wildland urban interface.
 
Jennifer Rabuck is a prescribed fire specialist for Leopold Wetland Management District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in Portage, Wis. She has worked wildfires for 11 years and served as the information officer on the Cottonville Fire.