CAMP RIPLEY – Camp Ripley will commence its annual controlled burn program to help reduce the risk of wild fire during training. This year, despite training events being rescheduled due to COVID-19 concerns, the Camp Ripley team will continue as planned.
Unlike this previous year where Camp Ripley conducted controlled burns on approximately 17,000 acres of the 53,000-acre military reservation, the team will conduct hazard mitigation burns for potential risk areas only, reducing the size of many of the burns.
These burns are done in coordination with fully trained staff members of the Camp Ripley Fire Department, Department of Public Works and the Camp Ripley Environmental Department along with support from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
“We are taking extra precautions this season and working with our state partners to prevent any potential health risks that may be escalated by the current situations,” added Boone.
Residents of the Little Falls, Randall, Pillager, Baxter, Brainerd and Fort Ripley areas may notice or smell smoke originating from Camp Ripley. These periodic controlled burns will be conducted throughout the spring season to mitigate the risk of wildfires that may potentially endanger training.
