Update on prescribed burn and fire danger over Easter weekend

Staff from the United States Forest Service are planning to conduct a 4.3 acre prescribed burn today.

The prescribed fire is located 2 ½ miles northwest of Tofte near the Sawbill Trail and Temperance River in a grass opening just across the Sawbill Trail from the Britton Peak trailhead, according to Patrick Johnson, the east zone fuels specialist for the Gunflint and Tofte districts.

The fire will likely start early this afternoon (April 2).

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, fire danger in Cook County and all of northeastern Minnesota was upgraded from moderate to high on April 2. Burn permits are restricted in Cook County at this time and allowed with variance permits only.

As the weather looks promising along the North Shore and throughout Cook County in the coming days, there are some who might like to have a backyard fire or campfire this weekend. WTIP spoke with DNR Fire Program Forester Aaron Mielke this morning and he said that right now there are no restrictions on campfires.

However, burning permit activations are currently restricted due to the winds and low humidity expected the next couple of days which has elevated fire danger.

Mielke said that if people are having a campfire this weekend, he would urge caution, make sure the fire is always attended, combustibles are cleared out in the area of the campfire and that the fire is completely out when done.

To learn more about the current fire conditions in the WTIP listening area, click here.