Since the Germann Road fire earlier this summer, 12 rebuilding permits have been issued even though 56 structures were damaged in northwestern Wisconsin.
Officials say such delays are normal. Gov. Scott Walker said state agencies would be available for those who needed them following the fire.
Officials with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, the Office of Commissioner of Insurance and the state Department of Administration started work almost immediately. After a quick response, they are still waiting for people who lost buildings, including 17 homes or cabins, to come forward. Commissioner of Insurance Liaison J.P. Wieske said the process takes time.
“When you’re dealing with something this devastating … it takes people time to sort through everything they need to do until they finally get to their final insurance claim and their final settlement," he said.
The May wildfire consumed almost 7,000 acres, mostly in Douglas County. County Zoning Administrator Steve Rannenberg thinks people are waiting on insurance claims.
“We are getting towards the end of what we would consider to be the normal permitting season for this construction season, but we may see more activity later this fall in anticipation for building … next spring," Wieske said.
Douglas County Administrator Andy Lisak said the Department of Administration did a great job after the fire. He said they had folders waiting for victims to come in for their permits.
“We knew which properties that had suffered structural damage because of our mapping capabilities," Lisak said.
The DOA is currently working with three full-time residents, two who ran businesses out of their homes that have come forward for help.
