Burning ban is issued for area

This article submitted by Linda Stelling on 4/19/00.

Effective April 14, the Paynesville, Belgrade, Brooten, and Elrosa Fire Departments are imposing a burning ban on all outdoor fires within their fire districts. No one is allowed to have an outdoor fire of any kind, and burning permits will not be issued until further notice.

The earlier burning bans for Eden Valley, Cold Spring, Richmond, Rockville, and St. Joseph also remain in effect until further notice.

The extremely dry and windy conditions have created a potentially dangerous situation for any type of fires.

Due to the dry weather conditions, the Meeker County Sheriff's Department has issued a burning ban for the entire county.

Recently, fire departments throughout Meeker County have been dispatched to various grass fires, exhausting personnel and in some instances had equipment damaged or destroyed. After issuing some burning permits, buildings have caught on fire and fires have come close to burning down houses.

With all of these circumstances, burning in barrels will not be permitted in Meeker County. Fires have started by using burning barrels for burning trash. Also, all existing permits are now invalid. Any permit that was issued and has not expired will be invalid. As with all previous bans, there will be no new burning permits issued until the burning ban is lifted.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in conjunction with the Meeker County Sheriff's Department, has been enforcing statutes and regulations for those people who violate any of the statutes or regulations. The Meeker County burning ban will stay in effect until significant rainfall has occurred.

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