Open burning is allowed again. However Minnehaha County recommends that proper notification takes place before you plan to light up your debris.

After hearing from Minnehaha County Emergency Management, the County Commission rescinded the burn ban on a 5 to nothing vote. Following the decision, the County sent out the official notice which is outlined below.

On Tuesday, May 5, 2015, the Minnehaha County Commission, based on the recommendation of the Minnehaha County Rural Fire Chiefs Association and the Minnehaha County Emergency Management Director, repealed the ban on open burning effective immediately. Persons wishing to conduct controlled burns in Minnehaha County are urged to contact their local fire department or Metro Communications at 605-367-7222 before initiating any controlled burns.

Minnehaha County Emergency Management Director Lynn DeYoung explains that lifting the ban is not a snap decision. "The commission received a recommendation from the rural fire chief of Minnehaha County that it would be an appropriate time to rescind the burn ban."

The ban had been in place since April 7, 2015. As far as official rainfall, Sioux Falls is over 3.5 inches of precipitation below normal for the year.

 

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