Fire restrictions eased

Recent rainfall has eased severe fire conditions in some counties of southern and central Minnesota. Effective immediately the fire restrictions in the following counties will be lifted: Anoka, Benton, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Sherburne, Stearns, Washington, and Wright. Fire restrictions have also been lifted in Brown County. The county sheriff imposed Brown County restrictions. “Current rainfall has only lessened the fire hazard in these counties,” said Fire Suppression supervisor Ron Stoffel. “If periodic rainfall is not received restrictions could be reinstated.” Rainfall recorded in Mora exceeded 1.7 inches, Carlos Avery Game Refuge by Forest Lake received .9 inches and Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge 1.7 inches.   Restrictions remain in effect for the following counties: Aitkin, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Ottertail, Pine, Pope, St. Louis, Stevens, Todd and Wadena. “Very little rainfall has been received across the northern third of the state,” said Stoffel. “Grand Portage has only had 11 inches of rainfall for the year. That is half of their normal precipitation.”  Bear hunting is less than two weeks away. Hunters who are in the woods setting up bait stations are asked to be very careful with fires. When they return to establish hunting camps they should check on restrictions in their hunting area.