The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has expanded the area subject to open burning restrictions of vegetative debris, as warm and dry weather spreads throughout the state. Escaped fire from burning vegetative debris is the number one cause of wildfires in Minnesota, and burning restrictions help reduce wildfire risk.
“Warm and dry conditions elevate the risk of wildfires, and restricting open burning helps prevent a burn pile from escaping and becoming a wildfire during times of high risk,” said Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist. “These restrictions really do work – they’ve helped reduce wildfires by more than 30% over the past decade.”
The City of Maple Plain is currently classified as being in a high fire danger area. This means fires can start easily and spread quickly. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has issued a Restricted - Variance Permits Only for Maple Plain. In Minnesota, “Restricted – Variance Permits Only” during a burn restriction means the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has temporarily stopped issuing normal open burning permits because wildfire risk is high. Only special-case burns approved through a variance permit are allowed.
For more information regarding obtaining a burn permit, click HERE.