Living Burnett

ENJOY ALL THERE IS TO DO IN BURNETT COUNTY, WI

Living Burnett

Chasing the Northern Lights in Burnett County 

Burnett County’s dark skies offer some of the best opportunities in the region to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.  Below are some ways you can prepare for a successful viewing experience.

Get Alerts for Northern Lights Activity

Stay informed by signing up for alerts from trusted sources that track aurora borealis activity:

Tips for the Best Dark Sky Experience

  • Turn off the lights – Start by switching off all indoor and outdoor lights.  Reducing artificial light dramatically improves your ability to see the aurora and the Milky Way.

  • Find open space – Move away from buildings, trees, and streetlights.  Open areas like frozen lakes or wide fields offer great vantage points for sky watching.

  • Check monthly tips – Keep an eye on our page for monthly updates and tips on how to help protect and appreciate Our Nature.

Protecting Our Dark Skies: Responsible Lighting Tips

Thoughtful outdoor lighting helps preserve the natural beauty of our night skies and protects wildlife habitats.  Here are a few tips on how you can be part of the solution:

  1. Be Purposeful – Use light only when and where it is truly needed.

  2. Keep It Focused – Aim lights downward and use shields to prevent light from spilling into unwanted areas.

  3. Choose Low-Intensity Lighting – Select the dimmest option that still gets the job done.  Reflective surfaces can amplify brightness, so less is often more.

  4. Use Timers or Motion Sensors – These reduce unnecessary light and help maintain natural darkness when it is not needed.

  5. Pick Warm-Colored Bulbs – Warm-toned lights (less blue light) are less disruptive to both wildlife and your view of the stars.

Let us all do our part to preserve the magic of Burnett County’s night skies — for ourselves and for generations to come.

Developing a Dependable Space for the Wildfire Season

Spring wildland fire prevention focuses on removing dry, winter-killed vegetation, creating a 30-to-100-foot defensible space around structures, and avoiding burning debris during dry, windy, or high-fire-risk conditions. Key actions include clearing roofs/gutters, pruning trees, moving woodpiles away from homes, and maintaining lawn equipment to prevent sparks.

When firefighters develop strategies for fighting wildland fires and protecting your home from an approaching fire, they evaluated what structures they can save. This evaluation includes is there save egress to and from the property and what fuels are present. Think like a firefighter and defend your space.

Key Spring Prevention Strategies

  • Defensible Space Creation: Create a non-combustible zone at least 5 feet from buildings, and a 30-to-100-foot defensible space by removing dead leaves, pine needles, and twigs.
  • Landscaping Maintenance: Mow tall grass to under 2 inches within the safety zone. Remove flammable debris, such as pinecones and needles, from roofs, gutters, and yards.
  • Safe Debris Burning: Avoid burning debris during dry, windy, or high-risk days; check local regulations and  obtain permits.
  • Equipment Safety: Maintain vehicles and machinery to prevent sparks.
  • Firewise Practices: Keep firewood piles at least 30 feet from structures and use non-combustible material like gravel or river rock for landscaping within 5 feet of the home.
  • Campfire Safety: Build campfires in safe, designated areas and extinguish them completely before leaving.

Critical Spring Risk Factors

  • High-Risk Conditions: Spring typically features high fire danger due to dry, dead grass, leaf litter, and increased wind/temperatures.
  • In Burnett County, burning permits are required when the ground is not completely snow-covered. Permits are free, and you can call the DNR hotline and receive daily burning time restrictions. There are fines for starting a wild land fire.

Simple Steps to safe Burning   Provided by the Wisconsin DNR

  1. Get a permit.
    • Visit wi.gov enter keyword “fire” to obtain a free permit online or call 1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876). The permit can be instantly emailed or mailed (3 to 5 business days) You can also visit an Emergency Fire Warden or DNR office to get a permit in-person.
  2. Check Before You Burn
    • On the day you wish to burn, call the hotline or check online after 11:00 am for current burning restrictions in that county. Fire conditions change quickly, so it’s important to check each day you burn to find out if burning is allowed, burning hours and any size restrictions.
  3. Follow The Rules
    • Follow the daily fire restrictions and fire safety recommendations listed on the permit. Make sure to have all the necessary tools to keep your fire contained. Lastly, make sure your fire is completely out before leaving.
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