BISMARCK – The USDA Forest Service Dakota Prairie Grasslands has terminated recent Emergency Fire and Restrictions orders and is allowing conditionally permitted activities in the Little Missouri National Grassland, Grand River-Cedar River National Grassland and the Sheyenne National Grassland.

The standing Fire Restrictions Order published in March 2024 remains in effect until Nov. 30, for all National Forest System Lands within Billings, Golden Valley, McHenry, McKenzie and Slope counties.

The Fire Restrictions Order outlines prohibited “condition-based” activities for the Little Missouri National Grassland, Denbigh Experimental Forest and Souris Purchase Unit on a county-by-county basis when the given county has implemented a burn ban/restriction and is identified as having a “Very High” or “Extreme” fire danger on the North Dakota Fire Danger Rating Map or the given county is under a Red Flag Warning.

Conditional restrictions may include, and not limited to, the following prohibited activities:

– Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire. Persons can use a stove or grill solely fueled by liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas fuels. The area must be cleared of vegetation.

– Smoking is acceptable within an enclosed vehicle or building, developed recreation sites, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter and barren or cleared of all flammable material.

– Travel on a non-surfaced National Forest System Road with a wheeled motor vehicle. During “Very High” fire risk conditions, vehicles must have a 2A or greater fire extinguisher or equivalent located inside/mounted to the vehicle.