Minnesota DNR expands burn restrictions

MINNEAPOLIS — With fireplace hazard between average and excessive for a lot of the state, burn restrictions stay in place for a number of counties, with eight extra being added Sunday.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expanded its burn restrictions to incorporate Becker, Beltrami North, Carlton, Clearwater, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, and St. Louis Counties, beginning 8 a.m. Monday. According to the DNR, fireplace from burning vegetative particles is the No. 1 reason for wildfires in Minnesota.

Restrictions will even stay in place for Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Stearns, Washington, Aitkin, Beltrami South, Benton, Cass, Chisago, Clay, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Norman, Otter Tail, Pine, Pope, Sherburne, Stevens, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin, and Wright. No open burning permits for brush or yard waste might be issued for these counties till the restrictions are lifted.

“Warm and dry conditions elevate the risk of wildfires, and restricting open burning helps prevent a burn pile from escaping and becoming a wildfire during times of high risk,” DNR wildfire prevention specialist Karen Harrison stated in a press launch. “These restrictions really do work – they’ve helped reduce wildfires by more than 30% over the past decade.”

For extra info and every day updates on the present fireplace threat in Minnesota, click on here.