Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s wildfire season is beginning fast, with risk above normal
Wisconsin’s wildfire season is starting fast and early across the state after a warm, dry winter.
A March wildfire outlook report from the National Interagency Fire Center, or NIFC, shows that the majority of Wisconsin — virtually all of it except a small slice of the southeastern part of the state that includes Milwaukee — is in “above normal” potential for wildfires through March and April.
And with winter not delivering heavy snowfall or temperatures needed to sustain snowpack throughout the state, it has meant that the state is seeing far more fires than usual by this time of year. The state Department of Natural Resources responds to and tracks wildfires in the state and in 2024 there’s been 196 fires across 361.43 acres, as of March 12.
Across the last 10 years, there’s typically 16 fires across 16.24 acres by that date. And, in the last week, there’s been 50 fires alone, the department announced March 12.
“We are significantly ahead of that and most of that is due to the lack of snow,” said Marc Sass, a state Department of Natural Resources cooperative area forest ranger in southeast Wisconsin. “Basically, there is no area of the state with snow … we’re at least one month ahead of where we typically are.”
Sass said it’s the first time in his 10 years at the agency that he’s noticed the lack of snow throughout the entire state. The lack of snow means that fuel, like dead grasses or other plants, are ready to burn earlier than usual and before the plants grow back in the spring.
The NIFC report says that the Eastern Area of the nation, which includes Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region, is facing heightened risk due to long-term drought, a lack of precipitation throughout February and the lack of snowpack.
“Exposed fine fuels and tall grasses that were not compressed under snow have become available to burn,” the report reads. “Hot, dry, windy events and persistently strong winds will be a big determinant in both the potential for increased and significant fire activity during the outlook period.”
The report says that Wisconsin chould be at a normal fire risk by May.
Wildfire season comes early, all at once
In Wisconsin, almost the entire state has entered wildfire season at once this year.
In most years, Sass said the state has what is effectively a rolling start. As the southern half of Wisconsin thaws and enters fire season by late February or early March, the upper half is usually not in conditions for it until April. In 2024, the state Department of Natural Resources has battled fires as far north as Douglas and Ashland counties.
“It limits how much we can shift our resources,” Sass said of the wide range of fires. “Typically, when the southern areas are snow-free and we’re having fires and actively suppressing fires … we often bring northern (help) down.”
The bright side, as the NIFC report notes, is that areas could see an early green up, when grasses return after the winter, and lead to a fire season ending earlier.
Steve Marien, a fire meteorologist at NIFC, said that while the potential is higher than typical, it doesn’t necessarily mean there will be rampant fires or particularly large ones this year. That still depends on day-to-day weather patterns, like high winds or heat, which could influence whether fires begin and their size.
However, he said that a possible issue is the potential for numerous small fires, which can put stress on fire departments spread thin.
Another factor is the state’s ongoing drought from last year, said Steve Vavrus, Wisconsin’s state climatologist and the assistant director at the University of Wisconsin Madison’s Center for Climatic Research.
About 68 percent of Wisconsin is in a drought, according to the latest data from the United States Drought Monitor. With 18.5 percent in a “severe drought” or a level two out of four.
“The concern right now, is that we’re in a drought still from last year. In fact, the drought conditions have worsened quietly in the last few weeks,” Vavrus said. “If we get a few more of the really unseasonably warm days that we had (earlier this month) … there’s legitimate concerns surrounding the higher risk of fire in Wisconsin and elsewhere.”
Historically Wisconsin is not ripe for large wildfires compared to other states, especially those in western parts of the country, Vavrus said. However, warm and dry conditions have caused issues here too.
In 2021, wildfires in Wisconsin prompted a state of emergency in the state. Last April, dry soil and temperatures in the 80s led to wildfires in the state and he pointed to another fire near the Necedah Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin in 2020.
Wisconsin’s heightened fire concern comes as other parts of the country have experienced massive blazes and worries simmer in Canada. In Nebraska, a massive fire burned over 71,000 acres and an ongoing wildfire in the panhandle of Texas is the biggest in history for that state.
On Monday the local National Weather Service issued a statement warning of elevated fire weather conditions in southern Wisconsin and cautioned people burning to take caution, due to the chance it could quickly spread. In worse conditions, the organization will issue a red flag warning and parts of neighboring states like Illinois and Minnesota have issued them in the last week.
The Canadian province of Alberta’s government declared a 10-day early start to its 2024 wildfire season, due to a warm temperature and lack of precipitation.
Last year, wildfires in Canada affected Wisconsin due to heavy smoke drifting to the United States. This year, there’s potential for wildfires to be an issue there again. National outlets like the New York Times have noted that some fires from last year, dubbed zombie fires, are still smoldering in Canada.
“Snowpack like in south central Canada is below normal up there too. So that’s problematic. Is it going to be as bad as last year? A lot of those starts are lightning starts from storms, it’s all dependent on if they get ignitions,” the fire meteorologist Marien said.
El Nino, climate change having an impact
A major factor in this year’s early start to wildfire season is the El Nino effect occurring and leading to the warmest winter on record. It typically reduces snowfall totals in Wisconsin.
El Nino can often mean a wetter season, with precipitation up two inches on average, according to the National Weather Service. However, this year, that was not borne out.
The organization reported that precipitation was down in both Milwaukee and Madison. In Milwaukee, the area typically sees 37.1 inches of snowfall, but that was down 17.6 inches this winter.
Knowing this year was going to be an El Nino year, the DNR has been on alert for this year’s fire season, Sass said.
“When we come through an El Nino winter, we expect more fires than we would in typical winter seasons,” he said.
Even if El Nino had brought an increase in rain, which is some help, the loss of snowpack has more of an impact.
Snowmelt can help stave off fire conditions across lengthy periods of time, as it melts on sunny days, refreezes overnight and repeats until it’s gone, whereas rain will soak into the ground in a day or two, Sass said.
“Every single day that it’s melting, it releases to keep that fuel wetter,” he said.
Climate change in Wisconsin is playing a role as well, as data shows that the state is becoming warmer and wetter over time, said state climatologist Vavrus.
The warmth is contributing to a faster transition between winter to summer, particularly when paired with El Nino this year. It can also melt snowpack faster.
“Both of those things can speed up the initiation of wildfire season here,” he said. “You think about a snowy cold March, we’re not going to worry about wildfires.”
After winters like the most recent and more anomalous weather overall, Vavrus said the public is starting to be more aware of climate change’s impacts in the state.
“It means it’s something we cannot ignore anymore and it’s going to become harder and harder to ignore,” Vavrus said.
Wisconsin
2024 Wisconsin Badgers Positional Review: Safeties
2024 Wisconsin Badgers Positional Review: Safeties
Wisconsin football saw its season end without bowl practices for the first time since 2001. The Badgers hit a new low this century in year two of the Luke Fickell era, and will face a critical get-right year in 2025.
Over the next two weeks, BadgerBlitz.com will examine the 2024 Badgers position by position. Today, we’ll wrap up the series with the safeties, a unit that helped anchor a strong defensive backfield in 2024.
POSITIONAL REVIEWS: Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Outside Linebackers | Inside Linebackers | Cornerbacks
2024 HIGH: Preston Zachman’s continued development
Redshirt senior Preston Zachman continued his development into a highly reliable safety in 2024, and even better news? He’s coming back next fall.
Zachman became somewhat of a surprise starter alongside Hunter Wohler last season, but he played well in the process, displaying his football IQ and a knack for being in the right place in the right time. He continued to take steps in a positive direction this season, posting a career-best stat-line of 58 total tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and four pass breakups.
The safety has a penchant for making routine plays routinely. He missed just six tackles on 753 total snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He also surrendered just one touchdown across 366 coverage snaps. But Zachman can also make the big play. His most impressive rep of the season was likely his interception in Los Angeles, pictured above. In coverage against dynamic slot weapon Zachariah Branch, a matchup most would deem a mismatch, he blanketed the receiver, bodied him at the catch point, reeled in the interception and talked smack in the star pass-catcher’s face after the whistle.
The ball skills he displayed were impressive, but it was also a clinic in technique and positioning. Zachman is one of the most fundamentally sound players on Mike Tressel‘s defense, and his return for 2025 is massive for a secondary that figures to be relatively inexperienced and also just lost its best player in Wohler.
2024 LOW: Hunter Wohler vs. USC
Interestingly enough, one of Zachman’s best games (USC) was also one of Wohler’s worst. He gave up two touchdowns in the second half alone, helping the Trojans complete the comeback victory.
With time dwindling in the third quarter, USC faced a 3rd-and-7 from the Badgers eight yard-line. Wisconsin sent six pass-rushers after Trojans’ quarterback Miller Moss, leaving five one-on-ones in coverage against a five wide look. That included Wohler on the 6-foot-6 wideout Duce Robinson.
Robinson ran a skinny post and simply boxed Wohler out to reel in a touchdown, looking like a forward pulling down a rebound over a guard. It’s hard to blame Wohler for giving up four inches of height to the physical specimen of a wideout, but still, the safety was directly responsible for that touchdown.
Wohler gave up a touchdown on the very next drive as well. The Trojans marched down the field in nine plays but were faced with a 4th-and-1 on the Badgers’ seven yard line. Moss ran a read option, and kept the ball with outside linebacker Aaron Witt crashing off the strong side. Wohler read the play well, and came face-to-face with Moss in the open field. If he made the tackle, it would’ve been a turnover on downs. Instead, Moss hit him with a filthy spin move, breaking the safety’s ankles and scoring a touchdown. Another straight-up mano a mano that Wohler lost resulting in a touchdown, on consecutive drives no less.
ONE STORYLINE TO FOLLOW BEFORE THE 2025 SEASON: Which transfer nabs a starting role?
With the return of Zachman and Austin Brown, Wisconsin is in a solid spot at safety. The Badgers have two experienced starters, in addition to a plethora of young players including four true freshmen. Zachman and Brown both figure to be starters given their experience and solid play in 2024. But if we’ve learned anything about Tressel’s defense over the course of two seasons, it’s that he deploys three safeties frequently. Especially given the fact that Wisconsin figures to be inexperienced at cornerback with just four corners currently on the roster, safeties can be expected to play plenty of snaps.
The Badgers have signed two transfers at safety at the time of writing: Matthew Traynor (FCS Richmond) and Matt Jung (D-III Bethel). Traynor is a versatile safety who can line up anywhere, while Jung absolutely stuffed the stat-sheet at the D-III level. Both figure to get plenty of run behind Zachman and Brown. But which player looks more dynamic? Who appears to be adjusting to Big Ten competition better? Where in the alignment does either player line up? These will be critical questions to answer this spring and into fall camp.
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Wisconsin
Wisconsin basketball receives votes in latest men’s AP, Coaches polls
Despite earning a 23-point win over Detroit Mercy, the Wisconsin men received fewer votes in both the AP and Coaches Poll Top 25s, which were released on Monday.
The Badgers (10-3, 0-2) stretched their win streak to two following three straight losses, which included two in Big Ten play. Wisconsin returns to league action on Friday, Jan. 3 when they welcome Iowa to Madison.
In the AP Poll, the Badgers picked up nine votes, as No. 25 Baylor received 125. In the Coaches Poll, Wisconsin got seven votes, with No. 25 Purdue receiving 73.
Oregon is the highest-ranked Big Ten team in both rankings, coming in at No. 9. Michigan State is 18th in both with Purdue No. 21 in the AP Poll followed by UCLA, with Illinois No. 24. In the Coaches Poll, UCLA is 21st, Illinois is 22nd and Purdue is 25th.
Tennessee remained No. 1, receiving the majority of the first-place votes. SEC rival Auburn is second followed by Iowa State and Duke.
Here is the college basketball men’s AP Coaches Poll Top 25 for Week 8:
(Dec. 23)
1. Tennessee (41)
2. Auburn (21)
3. Iowa State
4. Duke
5. Alabama
6. Florida
7. Kansas
8. Marquette
9. Oregon
10. Kentucky
11. Connecticut
12. Oklahoma
13. Texas A&M
14. Gonzaga
15. Houston
16. Mississippi
17. Cincinnati
18. Michigan State
19. Mississippi State
20. San Diego State
21. Purdue
22. UCLA
23. Arkansas
24. Illinois
25. Baylor
Others receiving votes: Maryland 119, Dayton 108, Drake 91, St. John’s 90, Memphis 65, Michigan 50, Georgia 45, Pittsburgh 27, West Virginia 26, Missouri 25, Ohio State 23, North Carolina 20, Clemson 18, Arizona State 13, Utah State 9, Wisconsin 9, Texas Tech 8, Indiana 8, St. Bonaventure 4, Penn State 3.
Dropped from rankings: Memphis 21, Dayton 22, Michigan 24, Clemson 25.
Here is the college basketball men’s Coaches Poll Top 25 for Week 8:
(Dec. 23)
1. Tennessee (20)
2. Auburn (11)
3. Iowa State
4. Duke
5. Florida
6. Alabama
7. Kansas
8. Marquette
9. Oregon
10. Kentucky
11. Oklahoma
12. Houston
13. Texas A&M
14. Connecticut
15. Gonzaga
16. Mississippi
17. Cincinnati
18. Michigan State
19. Mississippi State
20. San Diego State
21. UCLA
22. Illinois
23. Baylor
24. St. John’s
25. Purdue
Others receiving votes: Maryland 65; Michigan 52; Drake 51; Arkansas 51; Georgia 42; Clemson 40; Dayton 28; Memphis 25; Pittsburgh 22; Utah State 14; Texas Tech 9; Wisconsin 7; North Carolina 6; Missouri 6; West Virginia 5; Penn State 1.
Dropped from rankings: Michigan 21; Memphis 22; Dayton 24.
Wisconsin
Community remembers teacher killed in Wisconsin school shooting as Christian with Southern roots
Family and friends said their final farewells Monday to a substitute teacher killed in a shooting at a private religious school in Wisconsin last week, describing her as a devout Christian with Southern roots who made copious notes in her personal Bible and planned to take her children to Disney World next year.
Erin Michelle West, 42, was killed on Dec. 16 when 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow opened fire with a handgun at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. A 14-year-old student, Rubi Vergara, also was killed and six others were wounded before Rupnow turned the gun on herself. Rupnow was a first-semester student at the school. Investigators are still trying to piece together her motive.
Scores of people attended West’s midday funeral at Doxa Church in Fitchburg, a Madison suburb. West’s casket was set up before a stage decorated with Christmas trees adorned with golden lights. A giant photograph of her was displayed on a screen above the stage throughout the hourlong service.
Rob Warren, the church’s pastor, fought back tears as he welcomed people.
“In a sense, no one wants to be here,” he said. “But in another sense I believe we’re all supposed to be here right now, to hurt and heal together. As painful as it is, I believe we really all do need this moment.”
According to West’s obituary, she was born in St. Charles, Missouri, and graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2005. She married her husband, Jack, in 2005, in Powder Springs, Georgia. The couple has three daughters.
Warren read several verses from West’s personal Bible, remarking on all the handwritten notes and underlined sections throughout. He said that after Jack West gave him the Bible, the first page he turned to had the phrase “the Gospel is for everyone” written in blue ink.
“This is what Erin West was about,” the pastor said, adding later: “Erin is in heaven right now with Jesus and she’s more alive than she ever has been and that’s the truth.”
Nate Kaloupek, Doxa Church’s director of leadership development and equipping, gave a short elegy, describing how Erin met Jack in an online Christian chatroom and how Jack’s company, Cardinal Glass, moved the couple around the country, first to Oklahoma and the Pacific Northwest before they settled in Wisconsin about six years ago.
Struggling at times to find his voice, Kaloupek said Erin loved the fast food restaurant chain Chick-fil-A and she showed her Georgia roots often by quipping “love y’all” or “hey, y’all.”
He joked that Erin was “really bad” at hiding her emotions and felt God had called her to work at ALCS. She led prayers for people in their church group and tracked what prayers were answered, he said.
She loved camping trips with her family, wine-tasting trips with her husband and was looking forward to taking their daughters to Disney World this spring, he added, before concluding the elegy with: “She’d want me to say ‘love y’all.’ Thank you.”
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