An 830-acre wildfire burning in central Wisconsin, which destroyed several structures Monday afternoon, is now 99% contained.
The Pallet Fire, which broke out around 1 p.m., burned across Waushara County, southeast of Coloma, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said. As of 9 p.m., the DNR said the fire was 99% contained.
The DNR previously reported that the fire was 800 acres, but after aerial review and more accurate mapping, said the fire was roughly 400 acres. As of Tuesday morning, it has destroyed three primary structures, damaged numerous yards and vehicles, and several more structures are still at risk.
The fire traveled northeast and was burning in pine and mixed hardwoods along Cumberland Avenue and north of Highway 21. The DNR reported, "Fire officials on scene indicate erratic fire behavior and reports of torching with the fire moving into the crowns of the trees."
WATCH: Video shows horses in thick smoke being rescued from the fire
As of 9 p.m., there were still reports of unburned fuel burning inside the fire perimeter.
Suppression resources include 13 DNR engines, 16 heavy units (dozers with engines), one air attack plane, and assistance from several local fire departments. A nearby Wisconsin Operating Engineers training facility is also providing several resources.
Several evacuations were underway as the fire continued to burn. The Coloma Community Center was turned into a reunification center. According to our partners at Channel 3000, a worker said that roughly 30 people, many of them Amish families, were at the center at one point.
“They want to get home," Autumn Nowak told Channel 3000. "They want to see what's going on at home because we haven't had much of any information of if it's still standing or not, and of course the Amish that are here, it's all of their livestock, it is everything to them and they just had to pick up their kids and come down here and get out of there."
The cause of the wildfire is yet to be determined. However, the DNR said Monday's weather conditions resulted in elevated fire danger ahead of a developing storm front. Other factors included warm temperatures, low humidity, gusty winds, and dry vegetation.
Eleven other wildfires occurred Monday in DNR protection areas. Those fires have since been suppressed.
The DNR said a total of eight firefighters experienced medical issues while battling the fire, whether that's heat exhaustion, dehydration, or other issues. One of those firefighters had to be transported while the rest were treated on the scene.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the DNR said fire fighters are focusing on saving structures that may have been threatened Monday and are still taking care of any spot fires in the area
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