Voyageurs National Park has implemented temporary restrictions on all campfires including charcoal grills and barbecues effective immediately until further notice.
This restriction is implemented park-wide, and includes day-use, houseboat, tent, and backcountry sites, even if a designated metal fire ring is onsite. Camp stoves may continue to be used at this time. A camp stove is defined as a stove or grill that is solely fueled by liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels (pressurized liquid or gas stove).
Minnesota, including Voyageurs National Park, is experiencing drought conditions and this restriction is to help prevent an extreme fire incident. Since all camping within the park is dispersed or backcountry, park management is following the current Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) burning restrictions.
This restriction is in effect as of Tuesday, July 13, 2021 and continue until further notice.
"The boreal forest of Northern Minnesota and Northwestern Ontario is experiencing unprecedented drought conditions this summer. The National Park Service, U. S. Forest Service, and Ontario Provincial Parks encourages everyone to be safe. Currently all agencies, the State of Minnesota, and Province of Ontario have implemented campfire restrictions that visitors need to be mindful of. Given the severe conditions, and the national preparedness level with all the fires occurring through the U. S. and Canada, we need to minimize the risk of human caused fire to the greatest extent possible. Agencies recognize the benefit of fire to the natural system and use fire as a management tool under carefully defined parameters through prescribed fire missions. Under our current severity our focus is on suppression to assure protection from catastrophic fires." Bob DeGross, Voyageurs National Park Superintendent
Karen Tobler
