Fire danger increasing

Burning restrictions take effect Monday for many central and northern Minnesota counties, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

And while restrictions in Koochiching County may not take effect until April 2, Jon Handrick, DNR fire program forester in Littlefork, urged people to delay burning if they can.

“Anything that doesn’t need to be burned shouldn’t be,” he said Monday. “Wait until next winter or later, like in August.”

Conditions this past weekend were ripe for wildfires, he said. Unusually high temperatures and dry conditions for this time of the year, combined with high winds, made for dangerous fire conditions.

“It’s the driest spring most people can remember in a long time,” Handrick said. “We’ve had a couple fires already and they’re burning hotter than spring fires ever do.”

On Saturday, a cooking fire got away from people in the southern part of the county and burned 20 acres before DNR firefighters could extinguish it, he reported.

Also on Saturday, a garage and 30 acres were burned in an out-of-control fire the DNR extinguished, he said.

International Falls Fire Chief Jerry Jensen told the Falls City Council Monday that burning of brush piles and running grass fires are now banned in the city. He said that his crews have readied wildland fire equipment and will assist the DNR with its efforts to control fires around the community.

Despite a little rain Tuesday, Handrick said DNR firefighters anticipate being active in the next weeks.

“It’s looking like, unless we start getting rain and that could happen — it could rain a lot and all this would go away — it’s now shaping up to be one of busiest spring seasons we’ve had in  a long time,” said Handrick.

With no snow cover at this time, snowfall in Borderland is 8.3 inches less than normal. Since July 1 of last year, the area has received just 53.4 inches of snowfall, with the normal set at 61.7 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Last year, the area received 78.2 inches of snowfall.

Handrick urged area residents to call 911 as quickly as they can if they see a wildland fire. Attempting to extinguish a fire takes valuable emergency response time and could be dangerous.

“Don’t try to put it out yourself,” he said. “It’s too dry. Every year we tend to lose a handful of citizens to fires and we don’t want any of them to happen up here,” he said.

Because of the fire danger, the following counties will be included in the initial burning restrictions that take effect Monday: Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, southern Beltrami (that portion south of Highway 1), Benton, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Hennepin, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Kittson, Manhomen, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Ottertail, Pennington, Pine, Polk (that portion south and east of County Road 6 from the Manhomen County line to Minnesota Highway 92 east to the Clearwater County line) Pope, Ramsey, Roseau (that portion west of Highway 89), Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena, Washington, and Wright.

As spring weather continues, additional counties will be added as conditions warrant.

Spring fire restrictions limit open burning until summer green-up occurs. Traditionally, most wildfires in Minnesota occur during April and May. More than 95 percent of these fires are caused by human error.

The restrictions normally last from four to six weeks until sufficient green vegetative growth occurs. Spring fire restrictions have resulted in a dramatic decrease in both the numbers and sizes of accidental fires, Himanga said.

The burning restrictions mean the state will not give out burning permits for burning brush or yard waste. Campfires are still allowed. DNR officials urge people to be sure to watch a campfire continuously and make sure it is out and cold to the touch before leaving.

Fire conditions may change quickly over the next few weeks. For more information and maps, and to check fire conditions, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html.