Sheyenne National Grassland to begin prescribed fires
Lisbon, ND, October 31, 2025 — Sheyenne National Grassland is planning prescribed fire operations this month, pending all required approvals. This work may begin as soon as Monday, November 3rd and continue until November 10th or as favorable conditions exist. The USDA Forest Service uses prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
Prescribed fires planned for the area include:
• Three (3) separate prescribed fire units totaling 2,000 acres, located near McLeod, ND.
• No road closures are planned for prescribed fire operations: however, two of the identified burn units are located along ND State Hwy 27. Please drive cautiously, follow posted signage and expect short-term smoke impacts.
• No trail closures of the North Country Trail are planned at this time.
The burn units and surrounding areas may be closed to the public for several days for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns.
Residents will see smoke during the prescribed burns. Go to www.airnow.gov to find more detailed information about air quality. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road. Along ND State Highway 27, users should expect short-term, localized smoke impacts, please drive cautiously.
The USDA Forest Service will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled.
Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website and InciWeb, the interagency incident information system. We will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
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