wildfires

Dozens of wildfires burning hundreds of thousands of acres are currently burning out west in both the U.S. and Canada.The last few summers brought smoke from fires just like them to the Northwoods, dropping air quality to some of the worst levels seen in the region in years.

Smokey Bear is an iconic character created in 1944 by the U.S. Forest Service as part of a wildfire prevention campaign.Artwork inspired by the standing bear in his ranger hat will be on display in Rhinelander this week.

Although recent rain has improved conditions in some areas, much of the state's vegetation is still dead and dry.

Wet weather this spring has improved drought conditions in the upper Midwest and southern Canada. However, experts remain on alert for increased wildfire activity and other climate changes affecting people's health

The National Weather Service says elevated fire weather conditions are expected Monday afternoon and early evening due to mild temperatures and low relative humidity

As of Friday afternoon, the fire danger level across the Northwoods was high or very high.

The Shawano County Sheriff's Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are investigating a death and fire in the Town of Navarino

The Wisconsin DNR is warning of high fire danger across the state right now.All counties except Vilas, Forest, and Florence counties are at the high level for fire risk. Those three are in the moderate category.The Wisconsin DNR is asking people to avoid burning this week.

The upper Midwest rarely sees the type of high-intensity, destructive wildfires that the west coast sees, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen here.The Ottawa National Forest works to make sure if such a fire happened in the U.P., people and homes have the best chance of surviving.