Northern Minnesota Adds More Counties to Burning Ban Amid Wildfire Threat

The state is tightening rules on outdoor fires because the heat and dryness are making wildfires more likely. Starting at 8 a. m. on Monday, April 20, the Department of Natural Resources added several northern counties to its list where open burning is prohibited. These new areas include Becker, Beltrami North, Carlton, Clearwater, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau and St. Louis. The ban stays in place until the agency says otherwise. If someone lights a fire in one of these counties and it spreads, that person could face legal trouble. The department is not issuing permits for burning brush or yard waste in any restricted county at this time. Most of the northern and western parts of Minnesota are under a fire‑weather watch because of low humidity and wind.These conditions make it easy for fires to grow quickly. The department says people are responsible for more than 90 % of the state’s wildfires. When it gets warm and dry, keeping open fires under control helps stop a small burn pile from turning into a large blaze. Officials say the restrictions have cut wildfires by over 30 % in the last decade. Instead of burning, residents can compost or chip their yard waste and take it to a local drop‑off site. These options lower the chance of sparks starting a fire and can even help gardens grow better. The new restrictions start at 8:00 a. m. on Monday, April 20, and will stay until further notice. The agency will keep watching weather conditions and may add or remove counties as needed.