A small grass fire in the area of Highway 210 and Highland Scenic Road burned a 20-foot by 40-foot swath Wednesday night, highlighting the dangers of wildfires this time of year. The fire was quickly put out by the Brainerd Fire Department.
With the winter snow cover gone and dry grass and debris exposed, caution is required when it comes to fire in the area. Spring burning restrictions are in place for Crow Wing, Morrison, Aitkin and the southern half of Cass County.
Spring open burning restrictions mean residents are not allowed to burn brush or yard waste. Restrictions typically begin about two weeks after the snow is gone and remain in place until summer green-up occurs. This period of elevated wildfire danger usually lasts four to six weeks. In Minnesota, most wildfires occur during April and May and over 95 percent are caused by people. The DNR places restrictions on open burning during this time to reduce the number of wildfires during the spring fire season.
These spring restrictions have resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number and size of fires, according to the Minnesota DNR.
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