From the Superior National Forest - April 23, 2020

Spring season has arrived and with it, warm sunny days. Once snow has melted, dead grass and leaves are dried by sun and wind, making it easier for fires to start and spread quickly. Forty percent of the wildfires in Minnesota result from debris burning. As Superior National Forest fire crews prepare for spring wildland fire season we ask the public to be extra vigilant. 

The Superior National Forest enacted Fire Restrictions on April 16, 2020 (Closure Order No. 09-20-03). The building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal or gas camp stove is prohibited until further notice. The Minnesota DNR has restricted open burning in all northern Minnesota counties in and surrounding the Superior National Forest. The state will not issue burning permits for brush or yard waste in these counties until restrictions are lifted. A variance permit may be obtained for special agricultural, industrial or management circumstances. Residents may use alternatives to burning, such as composting, chipping, or taking brush to a collection site.

Help prevent wildfires, minimize the impact of smoke in the air and lessen the burden on emergency responders by doing the following:

• Don’t dump your sauna or wood stove ash with hot embers in the woods around your property.
• Don’t let anyone play with fireworks or matches.
• Never park a vehicle over tall, dry grass (vehicles cause more acreage burned than any other equipment).
• Install spark arrestors on outdoor equipment and recreational vehicles.
• 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.

These burning and campfire restrictions will reduce demands on our limited wildfire response resources at this critical time, helping to ensure our wildland firefighters can respond effectively to those wildfires that do occur and are available to support other critical emergency response needs.

For information and daily updates on Minnesota wildfire danger, current burning restrictions or to obtain a variance burn permit, visit the Minnesota DNR website at: mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions.

For updates regarding conditions on the Superior National Forest visit www.fs.usda.gov/superior and social media sites www.facebook.com/SuperiorNF/ orhttps://twitter.com/SuperiorNF 

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