Fire destroys barns in Kenosha County, Gov. Walker declares state of emergency in response to wildfires

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) – Governor Scott Walker declared a state of emergency in Wisconsin  Tuesday due to a number of fires across the state.

In western Kenosha County Tuesday a fire ripped through a family farm.

A neighbor says the fire destroyed both barns on the property as well as the family’s garage. Friends say a family of four lives on the farm with two grandparents also living there.

The fire broke out at the home on Highway 83 near 51 at 10:30 Tuesday morning. Everyone made it out safely. It appears animals did as well. Fellow farmers from the tight-knit community came out to try and help the family get their cattle off the property. Dry conditions and the size of the fire caused it to jump the road and spread across another field.

The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office says the cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious.

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MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) – Governor Scott Walker is declaring a state of emergency in response to recent wildfires.

In 2018 alone, Wisconsin has seen over 360 wildfires.

Walker released the following statement:

“We are taking a precautionary measure in order to protect our state,” said Governor Walker. “By taking this step we are ensuring that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has the tools to combat the spread of any wildfires. We appreciate the tireless efforts of the DNR, the Wisconsin National Guard, and Wisconsin Emergency Management in working together to protect Wisconsin families.”