Rochester Area Included in Burning Restrictions Imposed by DNR

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has added 15 counties to the list of counties with burning restrictions due to the warmer and drier conditions across the state.

The latest counties added to the list are in southeastern and south-central Minnesota and include Olmsted County. The others in this region are: Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Wabasha, and Winona Counties. The DNR burning restrictions also include Steele, Rice, Dakota, Le Sueur, Scott, and Carver counties.

The agency says it will not issue burning permits for brush or yard waste in the affected counties until the restrictions are lifted. A variance permit may be obtained for special agricultural, industrial, or management circumstances like a prescribed burn. The DNR notes that people who burn debris will be held financially responsible if the fire escapes and burns other property.

“Wildfire danger is especially high in April and May because we have dry conditions with no snow protection,” said Casey McCoy, DNR fire prevention supervisor. “Once the landscape ‘greens up’ fire danger goes down—but until then, restrictions reduce the potential for wildfires.”

Burning restrictions were earlier issued for 15 counties in the Twin Cities area and central Minnesota.

For information and daily updates on current fire risk and open burning restrictions, visit the DNR website: mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions.

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