Burning Restrictions Area Expanded

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has expanded the area subject to open burning restrictions. 

Officials with the Minnesota Incident Command System say that the burning of unwanted vegetation is the number one cause of wildfires in Minnesota and that burning restrictions help reduce wildfire risk.

Restrictions are now in place in Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clay, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Itasca, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau counties. The DNR will not issue permits for the open burning of brush or yard waste in these counties until restrictions are lifted.

DNR wildfire prevention specialist Karen Harrison says composting, chipping, or taking brush to a collection site are all good options if people need to dispose of vegetation or yard waste. 

People cause 90% of wildfires in Minnesota. If a fire rekindles or escapes, the person who set it is liable for any damage caused, as well as for wildfire suppression costs.  For more information and daily updates on current fire risk and open burning restrictions, visit the statewide fire danger and burning restrictions page of the DNR website.