By Rich Larson
As summer gives way to fall and leaves begin piling up in yards, Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service Chief Tom Nelson is reminding residents that burning yard waste is not permitted in the City of Northfield, while residents in rural areas must follow permitting requirements.
Nelson said Northfield residents should take leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste to the city compost site or maintain their own compost pile. Recreational fires are allowed, but they cannot be used as a way to dispose of yard waste.
“A recreational fire is a campfire for sitting around, and it’s not for burning green trimmings in the spring. It’s not for burning grass. It’s not for burning leaves,” Nelson said.
Residents who burn yard waste illegally could receive a ticket. Nelson said if the fire department is dispatched to an illegal burn, the property owner will also receive a $250 invoice.
Rules are different outside Northfield, where residents in both Rice and Dakota counties can obtain permits for certain types of open burning.
Within the Northfield fire district in Dakota County, permits are available at no charge through Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service. Permits are issued for the calendar year, and residents must contact the Dakota County dispatch center before burning.
In Rice County, burning permits are obtained through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website for $5 per year. Nelson said those permits must be activated on days when burning will take place. That information is available to emergency dispatchers and firefighters, helping them determine whether a reported fire is a permitted burn.
Permits do not allow residents to burn prohibited materials such as garbage, plastics or other illegal waste.
Nelson also encouraged people to continue reporting fires that appear suspicious or potentially dangerous. Even though a fire may be permitted, he said officials would rather receive a call than have someone ignore a potentially serious situation.
His advice for fall cleanup is simple: dispose of yard waste properly, and if burning is allowed where you live, get a permit and follow the rules.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
