Burning Restrictions Expanded, Include St. Louis + Cook Counties

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13, burning restrictions within the state will be expanded to include St. Louis and Cook counties.

Other counties that will have burning restrictions added are Beltrami, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods and the eastern portion of Roseau County. Burning restrictions remain in effect for Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties.

Burning restrictions remain in effect for Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties.

The DNR says that when burning restriction is in place within a county:

No campfires are allowed for dispersed, remote, or backcountry camping on all lands;
Campfires are allowed only in an established fire ring associated with a home, cabin, campground, or resort;
No fireworks may be ignited on any public or private land outside city limits (check with your municipality for any restrictions within city limits); and
Burning permits will not be issued for brush or yard waste, nor will existing permits be activated.

The burning restrictions will remain in effect until terminated by the DNR commissioner when weather and environmental conditions indicate a significant reduction in fire danger. The DNR notes that tribal nations regulate open burning for their communities.

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The burning restrictions mean campfires are not allowed for dispersed campers at 40 state forests, and backcountry campfires are not allowed at 26 state parks and recreation areas. This is true even if the backcountry campsite has a fire ring. Camping stoves are permitted.

Drought conditions have left much of the state ripe for wildfires. “The nearly 1,500 wildfires that have occurred in Minnesota since March are more than we typically see in an entire year,” burning permit coordinator Linda Gormanson said. Wildfires have burned 34,106 acres in Minnesota to date.

If outdoor recreation is in your future, it's best to check the Minnesota DNR statewide fire danger & burning restrictions page before you head out to check the current conditions.

Best Minnesota State Parks To Avoid Big Crowds

While iconic state parks like Itasca, Gooseberry, and Fort Snelling draw massive numbers of visitors each year, there are a lot of awesome state parks and recreation areas around Minnesota that offer fantastic outdoor or camping experiences without the high number of visitors. Give these a look!