The recent Big Island Fire that scorched through 750 acres of the White River Marsh State Wildlife Area in Green Lake County is now fully under control, as reported by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). According to their latest update, the fire that initiated on Monday afternoon was contained by midnight, marking a swift response from local firefighting teams and support services.

The fire, which enveloped the area's cattails and marsh grass, demanded the evacuation of six homes and the defense of around a dozen outbuildings. It's a testament to the responsiveness of the 13 fire departments, in conjunction with a myriad of services including the Berlin ambulance service, the Green Lake Sheriff's Office, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and several DNR resources, that no structures were lost to the blaze and no injuries have been reported.

Following the containment, firefighters stayed at the site to carry out mop-up operations. As of today, while no active flames are to be seen, residual smoke lingers across the marshes. For the safety of the personnel still working in the region and to curtail public interference, County Highway D will remain closed.

In their continued efforts to elucidate the cause of the conflagration, the DNR has confirmed no prescribed burns were slated for the area at the start of the fire. As per DNR's statement, the fire's origins remain under investigation, having raged across both state and private lands.

With spring's arrival heralding Wisconsin's wildfire season, it is imperative to note the DNR's warnings about potential fire hazards. The public is urged to check the current fire danger levels before engaging in any outdoor burning activities to prevent incidents similar to the Big Island Fire.