5/8/2025

ASHLAND – An update the wildfires that caused the closure of US-2 on the Bad River Reservation in Ashland County earlier this week. The Ackley Fires in Ashland on Monday closed part of Highway 2 for a time. Those fires burned roughly 23 acres of land east of Ashland. Nearly a five mile stretch of Highway 2 by Ackley Road had swamp grass and cattails on fire. There were several different starting points of the fires in the ditch along the highway which then spread to four separate fires. Ten structures were saved through the efforts of the Ashland County sheriff’s department and the Bad River, Ashland, Saxon and Kimball fire departments. So far this year, over 2200 acres have been burned by wildfires in Wisconsin. Department of Natural Resources reminds residents to remain vigilant and also reiterates that a total of 30 counties in the northern and central part of the state, including Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, and Vilas Counties are under burn bans for the foreseeable future. Campfires are permitted but should be used with extreme caution. The cause of the Ackley Fire has not been released.  Rain chances are minimal for at least the next week.