BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) is reminding residents to follow state regulations surrounding open burning, especially as drought conditions persist throughout much of the state. These rules are in place to protect public safety, reduce environmental risks, and minimize wildfire hazards.
Prescribed Burns Require Prior Approval
Land management agencies planning to conduct prescribed burns, such as those for wildlife habitat improvement or other land optimization, must obtain written approval from NDDEQ.
Open Burning and the Law
Residents are encouraged to follow all burning restrictions to ensure proper burning and safety procedures are achieved. Details about those rules, and also information on more specific burning activities such as burning buildings, burning at landfills, and burning oil, are available at the NDDEQ Open Burning Webpage. Certain activities, such as campfires, outdoor cooking fires, and agricultural crop burning, do not require a burn variance. However, local burn restrictions/bans must still be followed.
Additional Burn Requirements
Even with a burn variance, individuals must:
- Check for local burn restrictions/bans here.
- Monitor fire danger ratings Fire Danger Ratings and red flag warnings Reg Flag Warning.
- Follow emergency declarations. Up-to-date conditions can be found at ndresponse.gov.
- Residents must also notify local fire departments and emergency management offices before burning.
Community Awareness and Safety
Although not required, NDDEQ encourages residents to notify their neighbors before conducting an open burn. This helps ensure safety and community awareness. For more information, visit NDDEQ’s open burning webpage at NDDEQ Open Burning Webpage or contact your local fire department or emergency management office.
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Open Burn Variance
Central Valley Health District issues authority for Burn Variances for all of the counties in the South Central Region 6 area. Regardless of whether or not the burning is permissible under the rules or whether a variance to open burn has been issued, all open burning must comply with all of the conditions contained in Subsection 33.1-15-04.2. Some of these conditions are as follows:
- No public nuisance is or will be created.
- No occupied building may be impacted by air contaminants from the burning.
- No traffic hazards can be created.
- The burning must be attended and supervised at all times.
To report a suspected illegal open burning incident in Region 6, contact the Central Valley Health District or your local law enforcement agency.
