Rural firefighters worried about water supply as drought continues

GERMANTOWN -- The continued drought conditions have some fire departments with a real sense of dread. Rural agencies often depend on ponds and rivers for water to put out fires, and as the heat and dry weather continues, the water supply dwindles. With a heat advisory already in effect for Monday, July 16th and Tuesday, July 17th, firefighters are growing increasingly concerned.

Dry conditions have kept first responders busy, tackling things like brush fires throughout southeastern Wisconsin this summer. In rural Washington County, there are water worries as the drought continues.

"We're watching where we're getting our supply from, and are we going to have an adequate (supply)?" Allenton's Fire Chief, John Breuer said.

Breuer says ponds, rivers and lakes providing water for fighting fires have begun to shrink.

"We're concerned. Concerned means if we need something on a large scale incident, are they going to adequately supply us, or are we going to have to go to multiple sources," Breuer said.

Breuer says the weather has increase the likelihood that some departments will need help, and they may need to get water from neighboring communities. For now, the water levels are sufficient, but Breuer says water is something they're monitoring daily.

Despite the heat advisory already issued for the start of this week, Peter Winarski plans to grind it out at the skate park with his friends.

"I'm going to drink a lot of water and wear sunscreen, but I'm going to keep skating," Winarski said.

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