Ice is Gone – Boundary Waters Blog

The lakes are completely ice free. Officially the last chunk on Saganaga sank sometime on the 10th making it a record ice out. We are now free to move about the canoe country as long as we don’t have campfires.

The lack of precipitation has caused the northwoods to be extremely dry. We need some moisture.

Date: April 9, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FIRE RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT APRIL 12 ON
CHIPPEWA and SUPERIOR NATIONAL FORESTS

Rapid spring snowmelt combined with a lack of rain has heightened fire danger across much of Minnesota, especially in the northern portions of the state.

The Chippewa National Forest and Superior National Forest have issued fire restrictions that will begin on April 12, 2010.

Due to the increased concern about wildfires, campfires in remote locations will no longer be allowed on all lands within the Superior and Chippewa National Forests. Campfires or recreational fires will only be allowed in designated fire receptacles designed for such use and associated with a residence, dwelling, campground, or resort.

Campfires will not be allowed in dispersed areas of the national forests or within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Gas and propane camp stoves may be used in any area within the two National Forests.

"Campfires in fire rings should be monitored closely," stated Henry Goehle, from Minnesota Interagency Fire Center. “Fires start easily and spread at a fast rate. Unattended campfires are likely to escape.”

Restrictions on the two national forests will remain in place until further notice. These restrictions are concurrent with restrictions across a larger area in northern Minnesota.

For additional information, please contact the Chippewa National Forest at 218-335-8600 or Superior National Forest at 218-626-4300.

DNR NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 9, 2010
Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director, 651-296-5023; Jean Bergerson, 218-327-4564.

Additional open burning restrictions to begin April 12

Due to an increased concern about wildfires across the state, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is tightening restrictions on campfires in 37 Minnesota counties beginning at 12:01 a.m. on April 12.

Counties affected by the new restrictions are:
Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Cook, Crow
Wing, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake,
Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pennington,
Pine, Polk (that portion east of County Highway 6 and south of State Highway 92), Pope,
Roseau, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, St. Louis, Todd, and Wadena.

Campfires will not be allowed at non-designated campsites and other remote locations. This will impact shore lunches, dispersed campsites, day hikes, and backpacking trips.

Campfires are still permitted in designated fire receptacles at residences, dwellings, campgrounds, and resorts if they are no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 3 feet in height.

In addition, fireworks will be prohibited outside municipalities due to the volatile nature of these explosives.

Similar restrictions will be in place on national forest lands in both the Chippewa and Superior National forests including the entire Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Lack of rain after the rapid spring snowmelt has heightened fire danger across much of Minnesota. The restrictions will remain in place until sufficient precipitation is received to moderate fire danger. If normal precipitation is not received in the near future, additional restrictions may be imposed.

For the latest wildfire information, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html