KFGO file photo
FARGO (KFGO) – The Cass County Commission has declared a fire emergency and enacted burn restrictions through May 19 due to abundant dry vegetation and ongoing hot, dry, and windy weather conditions.
The restrictions will be in effect whenever the North Dakota Rangeland Fire Danger Rating for Cass County is classified as High, Very High, or Extreme, or when a Red Flag Warning is issued by the National Weather Service.
All open burning is prohibited. That includes campfires, garbage or pit burning, controlled burns such as brush piles and agricultural fields, and the use of fireworks both aerial and ground-based.
There are exceptions for controlled devices such as gas camp stoves, gas, wood-fired, or charcoal grills, and outdoor fireplaces or chimineas, provided they are placed on a hard, non-organic surface at least 15 feet from vegetation, and an extinguisher or water source is immediately available.
Violations of the burn restriction are classified as a Class B misdemeanor under state law and could result in up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,500.
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