justnorth posted on March 24, 2008 21:35 :: 1755 Views
In a move to improve convenience and enhance public safety, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has added more counties to its Internet-based burning permit system. Individuals can now receive year-long open burning permits in the following counties: Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Goodhue, Itasca, Kanabec, LeSueur, Pine, Rice, Steele, Wabasha and Waseca.
The Web address for this information is mndnr.gov.
Traditional paper permits from local fire wardens will also remain available.
“This new system gives people an additional option for securing a permit,” said Larry Himanga, wildfire prevention coordinator for the DNR Division of Forestry. “People can get a permit to burn without leaving their home.”
A major benefit of the electronic permits is public safety. DNR fire managers and local emergency dispatchers can view the system and check the locations of active burning permits in real time. Also, since permit holders will have to check in with the system each day they want to burn, fire managers have an unprecedented opportunity to respond to local weather conditions and shut down burning on high fire-danger days.
Online permits will cost $5 annually, compared with the free paper permits of the past, and the online permit will be valid for an entire calendar year.
“We wanted a method of issuing permits that allowed us to know when and where the permitted fires are, while at the same time using the power of the Internet to offer convenience to citizens and this system enables us to do that,” Himanga said.
As part of this new system, all permittees within the county will have to activate their permits each day they are going to burn. This includes the paper issued permits as well as those obtained online. Activating the Internet permit may be done online or over the phone while those with paper issued permits must call a toll free number. After providing permit information, permittees will receive a message informing them of current burning regulations and advising them if they are allowed to burn that day. A confirmation number issued by the system is used to validate daily burning and must be recorded on their permit.
Enforcement officers will look for a valid activation number. If the number is not valid, the individual conducting the burn may be cited for illegal burning.
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