The rapid loss of snow cover in north central Minnesota has promoted the Department of Natural Resources to expand the spring burning restrictions to include an additional 19 Minnesota counties.
Burning restrictions will go into affect in nine counties at 8 a.m. Monday with restrictions for the other 10 beginning at 8 a.m. April 15. That increases that total number of restricted counties to 36.
"It is extremely dry and with the warm weather and lack of moisture that makes the situation that much more serious," said George Meadows, department fire prevention specialist. "Fire crews have already been busy responding to a number of wildfires throughout the affected counties."
Counties affected by the Monday burning restrictions include: Cass south of Highway 87; Crow Wing, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pine, Todd and Wadena.
Burning restrictions for the following counties will April 15: Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass north of Highway 87, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, Mahnomen and St. Louis south of Highway 1.
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Restrictions are already in place for Anoka, Benton, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Douglas, Grant, Hennepin, Isanti, Pope, Ramsey, Scott, Sherbume, Stearns, Stevens, Washington and Wright counties.
For more information, call (218) 847-1596.
