Fairhaven Township Man Cited After Fire Monday Afternoon

(KNSI) — A Fairhaven Township man was cited Monday afternoon for burning without a permit after a Stearns County Sheriff’s Deputy discovered a fire on his property that had gotten out of control.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Department says a deputy out on patrol noticed a large amount of smoke in the area and traced it to an address on County Road 44, where they discovered a wooded lot with fire and flames surrounding a home. The property owner, 62-year-old James Hay, said he was trying to burn a large log, and the fire spread out of control.

Burning restrictions are in place across much of the state, including Stearns County, and except for campfires, a variance permit is needed, which the report says Hay did not obtain.

A grass fire in Albany Sunday was started by someone cooking maple syrup. They, too, were cited for burning without a permit.

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