Trees are once again turning green and neighbors are mowing their lawn, but that doesn't mean Wisconsin's wildfire season is over yet.
The Department of Natural Resources is still warning residents and visitors to be safe with fire, as drought-like conditions continue for the southern and western portions of the state. As of Wednesday afternoon, six new wildfires had broken out in the northern and south-central portions of the state.
This spring has already been particularly bad for wildfires, with hundreds breaking out across the state. In early April, severe wildfires spurred Gov. Tony Evers to declare a 60-day state of emergency, allowing the Wisconsin National Guard to be called in to help battle blazes. That state of emergency runs through the beginning of June.
So far this year, there have been more than 600 wildfires across the state, burning more than 1,770 acres of land, according to department data. The state is already above the five-year average for acres burned in wildfires, said Marc Sass, a forester with the DNR.