With low snowfall over the winter and a warm, dry spring, fire danger becoming very high. Superior National Forest District Ranger Dennis Neitzke reported to the Cook County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, April 13, 2010 that moisture content in the largest forest fire fuel – dead wood – is at a record low. It is even lower than the moisture content just prior to the 2007 Ham Lake Fire that burned about 75,000 acres in Minnesota and Canada.
Level 3 fire restrictions, determined by the U.S. Forest Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, are on in 2/3 of the state. An April 9 news release from Kristina Reichenbach of the U.S. Forest Service says that campfires are not allowed in any remote locations in the Superior National Forest. “Campfires or recreational fires will only be allowed in designated fire receptacles designed for such use and associated with a residence, dwelling, campground, or resort,” Reichenbach wrote. Gas and propane camp stoves may be used throughout the forest, however.
Notices announcing the restrictions have been posted at campgrounds and wilderness entry points, Neitzke told the county board. The recent cooler weather is helping reduce fire risk, but one warm or windy weather system would bring the danger up even higher.
“The difference between high and extreme or ‘red flag’ is temperature and wind,” Neitzke said in a phone interview, “which can change overnight or in a matter of hours sometimes.”
Level 4 restrictions would eliminate all open fires and some outdoor activities such as welding.
“Campfires in fire rings should be monitored closely,” stated Henry Goehle of the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center in the Forest Service news release. “Fires start easily and spread at a fast rate. Unattended campfires are likely to escape.”
Sheriff Mark Falk told the county board that both he and the Lake County sheriff support the fire restrictions. Sheriff Falk hopes people will simply choose not to have fires at all.
The Superior National Forest and Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources enacted fire restrictions on April 12, 2010. Due to the increased concern about wildfires, campfires in remote locations will no longer be allowed on state and
national forest lands. Campfires or recreational fires will only be allowed in designated fire receptacles designed for such use and associated with a residence, dwelling, campground, or resort.
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