DELTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

   FIRE & RESCUE FAQ's  

Can I have a campfire at my house?

Yes you can but there are rules that need to be followed. Permitted fires within the Village of Lake Delton are only campfires that are used for cooking or warming the body.  Additional rules include the use of a fire ring no more than a 48 inch diameter, using clean wood only, completely on private property, adult supervision, and does not cause a fire hazard or nuisance to other persons. All other outdoor fires are strictly prohibited, such as the burning of brush, leaves, trash, and the use of burn barrels or incinerators. 

Can I burn if I live outside the Village of Lake Delton limits?

Campfires are allowed anytime, year round as long as a burning ban is not issued.  These fires are for the purpose of cooking or warming the body. 

From January 1^st until May 31^st, burning is allowed from 6pm until 12midnight with a permit.  If the ground is snow covered during these months, no permit is needed. Burning without a permit at anytime of the day is allowed from June 1^st until December 31^st as long as there is not a burning ban.  All fires must be attended at all times. It is illegal to burn items such as plastic, household garbage, green treated lumber, plywood, rubber, any other toxic item, or any item generated from a business.

For any questions regarding burning that is outside of the village limits, please call the Wisconsin Dells Ranger Station at 608-254-4451.  These laws apply to Sauk and Columbia County.  There are different laws for other areas and municipalities may have further restrictions.

Permits are issued at no charge and can be completed on-line. For permits or to check on fire danger levels, please visit these links:

What do I do if I have a fire?

First, get everyone out of the building. Then use a cell phone or a neighbor’s phone to call 911. Never try to fight the fire yourself or go back into a burning building. Call 911 early to get the Fire Department to your home or business quickly – never delay. When in doubt, call 911. 

Should I have a fire extinguisher in my home?

Yes, but only if you are willing to follow these rules. First, call 911. The delay in calling for the Fire Department to respond may make the difference in saving your life or property. Second, understand that fire extinguishers in a home should never be used to fight large or spreading fires. No fire extinguisher should be used on any fire that is larger than a waste basket in size. Many times the improper use of an extinguisher makes the fire worse and spreads fire into places where it would not normally go. You must choose the right type, size, and class of extinguisher for your home, and you need to be properly trained and experienced in using one. Feel free to contact the Fire Department for more information.

Do I need a Carbon Monoxide detector?

Per state law, all single family and two-unit homes, new and existing, must install a CO alarm on every floor level, near sleeping areas.  A CO alarm is needed if your home has any fuel burning appliance such as stoves, ovens, grills, clothes dryers, furnaces, boilers, water heaters, fireplaces, and heaters or has an attached garage. New construction must be hard-wired with a battery back-up. Existing homes may install any type of CO alarm ; battery, plug-in, or combination smoke/CO devices.

What if my carbon monoxide detector is going off?

If people in the house are feeling ill, get out of the building into fresh air and call 911 immediately. If there are no signs of illness, call Sauk County Dispatch center at (608) 254-8331 and request to have the Fire Department sent to the home. We will use our metering equipment to try and determine the level of carbon monoxide and its source. Do not open any doors or windows in an attempt to ventilate the house as that will make it harder to find the source.  

Does the Fire Department charge me if you come to my property for a call?

 This depends on where you live.  There is no charge for a fire department response if you live in the Town of Delton or Village of Lake Delton.  There is a charge per call based on services provided if you live in the Delton Fire coverage area of the Town of Dellona or on Ho-Chunk Nation Tribal land.  

Does the Fire Department conduct courtesy home fire inspections?

Yes. The Department’s fire inspectors have the responsibility of conducting fire and safety inspections in all commercial establishments and apartment buildings. The inspectors will also come to any residential home in the Village and conduct a courtesy inspection in order to help identify hazards and provide suggestions for improvement. There is no charge for this service. 

What do I do when an emergency vehicle is approaching?

Just remember to “Pull to the Right for Sirens and Lights.” By law, the driver of a vehicle is required to pull to the RIGHT and STOP immediately upon seeing an emergency vehicle approaching with its lights and/or siren on. This includes traffic moving in either direction. Remember, you must yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle, never follow closer than 500 feet behind one, not park in the same block that a fire truck has pulled up to at a scene, and never drive over any fire hose. If you don’t follow the law, you may delay the response to an emergency or cause a crash. 

What is the "Move Over Law?”

Drivers must provide a safety zone for stopped fire apparatus, law enforcement, other emergency responders, and maintenance vehicles. To help safeguard personnel who work on the side of highways, Wisconsin has a "Move Over Law." The law requires drivers to shift lanes or slow down in order to provide a "safety zone" for a fire truck, squad car, ambulance, tow truck, or highway maintenance vehicle that is stopped on the side of a road with its warning lights flashing. Drivers have two options for creating a safety zone: if the road has more than one directional lane, like the Interstate, and you can switch lanes safely, you must move over to vacate the lane closest to the vehicle with its lights flashing. If you can't safely move over, you must reduce your speed. Failure of motorists to move over is one of the reasons that motor vehicle crashes kill more law enforcement officers on duty than any other cause.

What is the ISO rating and what rating is the Village of Lake Delton?

ISO stands for Insurance Services Office and one of their services is the Public Protection Classification system often referred to as the ISO rating of a city. This rating represents the effectiveness of fire protection in a city on a scale of one through ten with a class one being the best or superior fire protection and class 10 no meeting minimum criteria.

Currently, Delton Fire Department has an ISO rating of 4

When are the sirens activated?

There is a siren mounted on top of the Delton Fire Department that is used only to advise of a Tornado Warning.  This warning is a long steady tone.  In the event of this siren being activated, immediately seek shelter. 

The county’s emergency warning system is tested on the first Wednesday of each month at about noon.  This test consists of the Tornado Warning siren being activated.

 What and where can I find information on the fire codes?

Village of Lake Delton Fire Codes:
  Village of Lake Delton Municipal Code: Chapter 36 Fire Protection

Wisconsin Department of Administration Comm 14: 

  Wisconsin Department of Commerce Safety and Buildings Codes