Officials: Menomonee Falls wildfire under control, nearly 400 acres burned
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A large wildfire is now under control in Menomonee Falls.
The brush fire burned for several hours Friday, leading to a massive response from local fire departments.
The fire forced people to leave their homes as firefighters worked to put out the fire all afternoon into Friday night.
Officials say they received multiple 911 calls reporting several large grass fires along the railroad tracks in the area between Pilgrim and Lannon Roads. Additional emergency resources were requested from 36 departments, spanning six counties.
The Wisconsin DNR estimates the fire to have burned nearly 400 acres.
UPDATE:
— Wisconsin DNR (@WDNR) April 3, 2021
As of 8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 2, the fire was contained. It is estimated to be a 400-acre fire.
The Wisconsin DNR also sent out a notice around 5 p.m. advising the public to avoid the area of Silver Spring Drive and Marcy Road.
Wildfire in Menomonee Falls is starting to catch more trees and brush. We’re being told the Menomonee Falls PD and Fire are evacuating hundreds from the area pic.twitter.com/JDrL52wmiU
— Brendan Cullerton (@BCullerton) April 3, 2021
We talked to multiple residents who say police advised them to leave their homes because of the fire.
We're told it started near train tracks and it picked up steam once it reached a marsh area.
"I was at work and I got an alert that there was a brush fire at Marcy and Silver Spring and then I got a call from my wife saying she was getting evacuated."
Cant really see the smoke at night but the wildfire in Menomonee Falls continues as residents have been forced to evacuate pic.twitter.com/6aaF6ypBQu
— Brendan Cullerton (@BCullerton) April 3, 2021
There were still emergency personnel on the ground as of 10 p.m. Friday night, but Menomonee Falls police have given the all clear for evacuated residents to return to their homes shortly before 9 p.m.
Fire departments from all across southeast Wisconsin spent nine hours putting out the fire.
According to a news release, there have been no reported injuries or reported damage to any business or residential structure.
Officials say all of Wisconsin is at a very high fire danger level heading into the Easter holiday weekend, with low humidity and high winds in the forecast.
There have been more than 200 wildfires reported in Wisconsin so far this year, according to the DNR, burning over 450 acres.
You can monitor fire conditions online, here.
Officials say multiple agencies responded to the scene including the Menomonee Falls Police Department, their law enforcement partners, the Department of Natural Resources, Menomonee Falls DPW and Waukesha County Communications Center.