Superior National Forest asks visitors to be fire safe
May 25, 2021 12:06PM ● By Editor
With a busy holiday weekend on the horizon, the Superior National Forest would like to remind visitors to plan ahead and to help prevent wildfire.
“This year has been unusually dry, and although that is starting to change with the recent precipitation, even a few dry, sunny days after spring rain can lead right back to heightened fire risk,” said Nicole Selmer, fire prevention technician on the Superior National Forest. “That is why the Forest is asking visitors and the public to take a few simple steps to minimize risk of wildfire this spring and continue to be cautious.”
Spring is typically when we see a majority of wildfires on the forest because it is dry and windy. Prior to green-up, small fine fuels are susceptible to ignition. Some of the most common sources of human-caused wildfires are campfires not being properly extinguished, sauna or home stove ash being dumped in the woods, illegal garbage burning and fireworks.
Here are some ways to be fire safe:
- Camp only at designated spots and use designated and enclosed fire grates. Keep your fire small, not tall.
- Drown, stir and touch your campfire before leaving the fire ring to ensure the fire is dead out. Repeat until it is cold to the touch.
- Stay away from using flammable liquids like gasoline to start your fire.
- Avoid parking vehicles over tall, dry grass (vehicles cause more acreage burned than any other equipment).
- Install spark arrestors on outdoor equipment and recreational vehicles and maintain recreational vehicles, trailers, and farm equipment to minimize the potential for sparks or other sources of heat.
- Check for dragging chains before hauling campers or trailers. Dragging safety chains down the road can quickly become hot and make sparks, causing grass fires.
Selmer recommends that visitors check the forest website for current conditions and alerts, and the Minnesota DNR fire danger and burning restrictions webpage prior to traveling. “Conditions on the forest might be different than where you’re coming from, so checking the fire risk and current burn restrictions in advance is always a good idea,” Selmer added.
Thank you for doing your part to camp safely and prevent wildfire in northeastern Minnesota. A copy of this press release is also available on the forest website here.
