The information below is from the WI DNR
One of the largest wildfires to hit Wisconsin in over 33 years, the Germann Road fire consumed 7,499 acres and destroyed 104 structures (23 of them residences) in the Towns of Gordon and Highland in Douglas County and the Town of Barnes in Bayfield County. An estimated 350 structures were saved due to fire control efforts. The fire began around 2:45 p.m. on May 14, 2013, burning a swath nearly 10 miles long and a mile and a half wide before being declared 100 percent contained on May 15 at 9 p.m. The fire was started unintentionally from a logging crew harvesting timber on industrial timber lands.
Three fire towers reported smoke, and soon after the 911 call DNR fire crews arrived on scene. Dense pine, high winds and dry conditions resulted in rapid spread and intense torching. Several evacuations took place as DNR firefighters, local fire departments and numerous other federal and state cooperating agencies worked diligently to suppress the fire, containing it in less than 30 hours. Thanks to the rapid response, good communication and suppression efforts, no injuries or fatalities resulted and over 77 structures were saved.