So me and a couple friends where out on the lake fishing a couple days ago, and we had started a fire on the lake with our own wood we had brought out with us. We had the fire going for about 3 hours and a guy who lives on the lake comes out and tells us it is illegal to have a fire on the lake unless it is in a, as he called it "vessel." I, nor non of the people I was fishing with have never heard of a law like this, and I have had fires going while dnr wardens were coming around checking out fishing license, and the dnr warden never said a thing to us about the fire. Now I have been looking up on the Wisconsin DNR web site for a law pertaining to fires on lake.

Any one ever heard of a law not allowing people to have fires on the lake? I want to find something to go back to this guy and show him that he is wrong, or if there is a law regarding having a fire I would at least like to know about it for myself.

I have been told this also by the dnr, we always have ours in a fire pit....

Pretty sure its illegal

BTW, you should get a Darwin Award for that one.

"Man starts fire on lake, ice melts due to heat of fire and he drowns while arguing with local citizen about burning regulations"

I've heard some pretty dumb stuff and this one certainly ranks up there.

I have seen some raging fires on lakes that people have made. You would be surprised the heat that ice can take. It doesnt just melt away and leave a hole. None of these fires that i have seen have ever melted more than a few inches into the ice. Good luck trying to burn a hole through....

If there is a foot or more of ice building a fire on a lake is no big deal. Once you get some ashes built up they act as a pretty good insulator from the red coals and flames.

I would be impressed if you could show me a hole burnt through the ice by a fire. I have had fires out on the ice and it doesnt melt more than and inch or so. The ashes insulate between the fire and ice. Plus heat rises.

But I have never heard of a law about having a fire directly on the ice. My cousin and I used to do it all the time and wardens were around and never said anything to us before either. But this was like 5-10 years ago. Maybe its something new this year.

I'll take the bet. You never mentioned anything about thickness requirements.

alright, well i will be expecting some pictures of you falling through the ice trying to light a fire on 2 inches of ice.

But really, i dont even know if its possible to do. It a good question. Cause i know its not possible to take a lighter to a water bottle and burn a hole through it cause the water uses the plastic as an insulator. The same with a fire on ice. Once there is a little bit of melted water on the ice it will use any ashes to form its own insulator and it wont let anymore ice melt. I know it sounds like it would melt right through, but i have never seen it make a hole anymore than an inch or so deep, even after burning a fire on ice for a few hours.

Im just busting your balls Daredevil

You guys are probably right it wouldn't burn though. It would be F'n funny if it did and a guy got a Darwin award for it.

Either way I get pissed off when Im crossing lakes and see burnt logs and shit out there. Its not a fun thing to hit on my boat.

At Lakewoods in Bayfield county, at the worlds longest weenie roast speed runs, they start a fire on the lake 1 mile long, never went through more than an inch or so.
Even on land, fire rings are recommended, but not required by DNR law, perhaps a local ordinace somewhere might be stricter.


Don

ha ha ha.. I know. If it were possible, i would be right there next to you laughing at them.

WE DO IT ALL THE TIME, NEVER ON THE BARE ICE USUALLY IN A FIRE PIT THINGER

Leaving the logs out on the ice is probably the most dangerous part of the whole idea. Make for a bad day if you hit one of those after it was covered in snow.

negative, I would start a fire on 4 inches of ice and not wory about a thing. And im pretty sure you wernt joking about that like you stated in your other post. I am still trying to find something on the DNR web site. I think I will just contact the local warden, I dont think it can get any clearer if he says yes or no to the lake fires. Ill keep ya posted. I never leave any big chunks of wood, everything is ashes when I leave, and I spread it out so there is no big piles or that.

Joking? Who said anything about joking?

Ball busting yes, but I wasn't busting your balls. I was busting another guy on a bet he was trying to make.

4" of ice and your gonna start a raging bon fire on it? Hope its not on my lake.

It people like you that make me laugh, think because you live on it, you think it is "your lake", prety sure this is exactly what the guy who came out and gave me a hard time was thinking as well. o well, I dont fish illinois anyway, that why I posted my question in the wisconsin forum.

according to what I found out , its considered littering if you don't pick up all debris including ashes. Littering fine. Suggestion was to use some kind of metal to contain the ashes...garbage can lid etc.

You seem like a responsible guy. My comment was written poorly about "not on my lake". For that and jumping all over you, I apologize.

Be safe out there.