Rhinelander – The U.S. Forest Service is planning prescribed fire operations within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest starting in April 2026. They estimate this work to continue through August, 2026 as weather conditions allow. The U.S. Forest Service uses prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
Potential 2026 Spring Burn Units
See the chart below for more information about the areas within the Lakewood-Laona Ranger District that may be burned in Spring 2026 if conditions allow and adequate staffing is available.
Those areas may close to the public for several days for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns.
Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. Go to fire.airnow.gov to find more detailed information about air quality. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.
The U.S. Forest Service will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled.
Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website, social media channels, and InciWeb (https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/), the interagency incident information system. They will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.
Lakewood-Laona Ranger District
Name |
Acres |
County |
Descriptive Location |
| Oconto River Savannah 1 | 60 | Oconto | E Riverside Rd off County Rd F about 1.5 miles |
| Oconto River Savannah 2 | 54 | Oconto | Peek Rd east of County Rd F, north of the intersection with Smyth Rd approximately .25 miles |
| Twin Pine Units 1 / 6 / 7 / 8 | 187 | Oconto | Southeast boundary of the Lakewood-Laona Ranger District near the intersection of State Highway 64 and Twin Pine Road (FR 2107) |
| Sleeping Bear Units 2 / 6 / 10 | 73 | Oconto | Southeast boundary of the Lakewood-Laona Ranger District near the intersection of Old 64 Road (FR 2307) and Airport Road (FR 2309) |
| Dusty Trails Units 2 / 10 | 91 | Oconto | Southeast boundary of the Lakewood-Laona Ranger District near the intersection of Old 64 Road (FR 2307) and Twin Pine Road (FR 2107) |
Visit the U.S. Forest website for additional maps and more information on prescribed fire plans within other areas of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/chequamegon-nicolet/fire/prescribed-burning-planned-spring-2026.
Photo/Map Credit: U.S. Forest Service
Published on: Mar 25, 2026 at 7:10 am