Last month on Sunday, March 9, a sudden brush fire erupted off the side of Capitol Drive near the intersection of Brookfield Road at about 2 p.m. Officials and local fire departments quickly responded to contain the fire. 

Brookfield residents living on Compton Lane and Chapel Hill Drive were asked to evacuate due to the risk of the brush fire, which was just south of the neighborhood. Fortunately, they were able to return home safely and timely because the fire did not reach near either of the streets.

The brush fire was extinguished at around 6 p.m after four hours. It left nearby businesses and homes unscathed, mainly affecting spreading throughout the marshlands where it started. The burn scars can still be seen on Capitol Drive, which will recover as time goes on. The fire’s origin and cause are unknown, but this past winter had been a particularly dry one for the entirety of Wisconsin. Precipitation levels were extremely low throughout December to February, only a few inches on average, which may have contributed to the fire’s ability to spread.