Wisconsin Prepares For Brush Fire Season Warm Temperatures Have Accelerated Danger Time MADISON, Posted 12:24 p.m. CST March 4, 2000 -- Wary firefighting officials in Minnesota and Wisconsin are preparing for a season of brush fires expected to come early and fierce as a result of a warm winter. Because there is virtually no fire-buffering snow anywhere in Minnesota or Wisconsin, fires will emerge across the region simultaneously, fire officials said. Wisconsin's wildfire season normally begins in late March or early April, said Ken Terrill, forest fire operations specialist for the Department of Natural Resources. But recent days of 50-degree temperatures and recent rain have melted the snow in all but far northeastern counties moved up that expectancy, he said. "We are ahead by about four weeks for the southern part of the state," Terrill said. A grass fire was reported in Chilton, Wis., earlier this week that burned about an acre of swampy grass during record-high temperatures. Terrill said it was too early to push the panic button because March historically has produced some pretty significant snowfalls. The greatest risk for large spring wildfires comes when temperatures warm to 70 degrees or higher, there are winds at least 20 to 25 mph and the humidity is low, Terrill said. "Two-thirds of the fires are caused by people being careless with debris burning," he said. This year the spring fire season arrived before the Minnesota DNR could hold its firefighter training courses. The DNR was forced to hold its spring fire awareness classes across the entire state at one time, said Joe Hudick at the Minnesota Inter-Agency Fire Center in Grand Rapids, Minn. Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Top Ten Signs Kathie Lee Is Slipping Well, Hello, Quizine: The 'Hello Dolly' Quiz Chat With Willie Nelson, Al Sharpto