Burn Restrictions Extend To St. Cloud Area

(KNSI) – The Department of Natural Resources is expanding burning restrictions into Central Minnesota.

Warm, windy conditions have quickly dried out much of the areas that saw rain recently.

Officials say the fire danger is very high, meaning fires start quickly and spread quickly.

Starting Wednesday, the DNR will restrict open burning in Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Wright, and Morrison County.

The state will not issue burning permits for brush or yard waste in these counties until restrictions are lifted.

People who burn debris will be held financially responsible if their fire escapes and burns other property.

“Wildfire danger is especially high in April and May because we have dry conditions with no snow protection,” said Casey McCoy, DNR fire prevention supervisor. “Once the landscape ‘greens up’ fire danger goes down-but until then, restrictions reduce the potential for wildfires.”

If people need to dispose of yard waste, McCoy recommends composting, chipping, or taking brush to a collection site.

Other counties under burning restrictions include Anoka, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Ramsey, Todd, Washington, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Norman, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, Wadena and Wilkin county.

For information and daily updates on current fire risk and open burning restrictions, click here.

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