DNR still battling forest fire near Peshtigo

TOWN OF PESHTIGO - DNR crews are still battling a forest fire just west of Highway 41 and expect to be for quite a while.

Firefighters responded to the fire around 3:00 p.m. Thursday.

Originally about 65 firefighters from three fire departments and the DNR fought the fire that is burning tall grasses, underbrush and some trees.

Now, the 102 acre fire is contained and about eight DNR firefighters continue to put out the fire with bulldozers, water tankers and other heavy machinery.

"We smell the smoke and everything. Yesterday there was ash coming down everywhere," said Meg Allen, who lives about a quarter mile from the perimeter of the fire, which is the closest home.

"Yeah we packed a bunch of bags and stuff and made plans to get out if we had to," she said.

Fire officials say no homes had to be evacuated.

Forestry Supervisor for the DNR, Mike Folgert, says crews will likely be there for several days.

"Until we get some really good rain I think is what we really need to put this out," said Folgert. "But until that, we're bringing water in and we put it on the ground in the hot spots. It's a lot of tough work. So it's going to take days and days and days."

Folgert says they are investigating all potential causes, from lightning strikes earlier in the week to human error.