Fire restrictions are in place due to unusually dry conditions this spring, however recent rainy days have allowed the ban to be relaxed in some areas. Campfires are now allowed in fire rings associated with a home or resort. At the Grand Marais Municipal Campground, Ron Vance of Fort Meyers, FL and Larry Waalken of Forest Lake MN are taking advantage of the lifting of the ban.
Although Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk has revoked a countywide burn ban, state and federal forest managers are keeping some of their restrictions in place.
The restrictions are necessary due to unusually dry conditions this spring, but a week of recent rainy days has allowed the ban to be taken off or relaxed in some areas.
“The Cook County sheriff hereby revokes Cook County’s burning ban, Cook County Board of Commissioner’s Resolution 2010- 33,” Falk said in a May 5 statement. “However, there are still burning restrictions in effect in Cook County…My order revokes the county-issued burn ban, but recognizes both the Forest Service and DNR burning restrictions that are in effect in Cook County.”
Federal restrictions
The Forest Service is adjusting campfire restrictions and closures on the Superior National Forest, and re-opened the Kekekabic Trail and associated trails to public use May 5. Also beginning May 5, campfires will be allowed any time of day but only in designated fire grates in developed campgrounds.
On all other forest system lands, roads and trails within the boundaries of the Superior National Forest, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or wood/ charcoal burning stove continues to be prohibited. The prohibition on campfires, charcoal and woodburning camp stoves includes the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Gas and propane stoves are permitted any time of day in any area of the Superior National Forest, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Forest managers said they are making this change in response to recent precipitation and green growth in northern Minnesota which has decreased fire danger in many areas. Conditions in the Arrowhead Region continue to contribute to high fire danger and the need to reduce potential human-caused fires. Previously, due to extreme fire danger across all of northern Minnesota, the Forest Service had prohibited campfires, charcoal and wood-burning campstoves in all areas of the Superior National Forest and the Chippewa National Forest and closed the Kekekabic Trail system. Restrictions on the Chippewa National Forest have since been lifted.
State restrictions
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has also announced that open burning restrictions will be eased in many counties. As of May 5, fire restrictions throughout the southern and central part of the state will be lifted and normal burning permit activities may resume. However, burning restrictions remain in effect in several counties, including Lake and Cook. Campfires will be allowed throughout the restricted area, but limited in Cook, Lake and Northern St. Louis counties.
DNR officials said the far northeastern portion of the state has received only light rain. Because of this, a commissioner’s order will continue to impose tighter controls over burning in Cook and Lake counties, and in St. Louis County north of a line running from Silica to Central Lakes to Brimson. Campfires will only be allowed in designated fire rings associated with a residence, resort, or developed public or private campground. Campfires at remote locations will not be allowed. In addition, fireworks are still forbidden.
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