Northern Minnesota Adds More Counties to Burning Ban Amid Wildfire Threat

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has expanded the list of counties where open burning is prohibited to curb the risk of wildfires triggered by heat and dryness.

New Prohibited Areas

Starting 8 a.m. on Monday, April 20, the ban covers these northern counties:

• Becker
• Beltrami North
• Carlton
• Clearwater
• Itasca
• Kittson
• Koochiching
• Lake of the Woods
• Mahnomen
• Marshall
• Pennington
• Polk
• Red Lake
• Roseau
• St. Louis

The restriction remains in effect until the agency announces otherwise.

Why It Matters

• Legal Consequences: Igniting a fire that spreads in any of these counties can lead to serious legal trouble.
• No Permits Issued: The DNR is not granting permits for burning brush or yard waste in any restricted county at this time.
• Fire‑Weather Watch: Much of northern and western Minnesota is under a fire‑weather watch due to low humidity and wind, conditions that accelerate fire spread.
• Human Impact: The department reports that over 90 % of the state’s wildfires are caused by human activity.
• Effectiveness: Restrictions have reduced wildfire incidents by more than 30 % over the past decade.

Alternatives to Burning

Residents are encouraged to:

• Compost or chip yard waste and dispose of it at local drop‑off sites.
• These practices reduce spark risk and can improve garden soil quality.

Future Monitoring

The DNR will continue to monitor weather conditions and may add or remove counties from the ban as necessary. The current restrictions will stay in place until further notice.