A summerlong ban on burning on state Department of Natural Resources land will begin today, the agency announced, and remain in place until at least Sept. 30.
The burn ban applies to all forestland under DNR fire protection. It does not include federal lands, though other agencies may impose their own restrictions.
The DNR burn ban includes two exceptions: recreational fires in approved fire pits at designated campgrounds, and DNR-approved prescribed fires carried out for forest health. The use of gas and propane self-contained stoves or barbecues is still allowed under the ban.
So far this year, DNR has seen 57 wildfire starts escape from outdoor burn piles; they burned a combined 202 acres. The agency strives to keep all wildfires under 10 acres.
