Need help restoring your damaged woods?
Cleaning up after a storm can feel overwhelming—but there are resources available to help you recover and restore your land.
Upcoming webinar
The Minnesota Forestry Association is hosting a one-hour webinar at 4:00 p.m. on January 12 to provide updates and resources for landowners directly affected by the blowdown. Register or view a previously recorded webinar.
Financial assistance available soon
The Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) can reimburse up to 75% of eligible costs to help clean up and restore woods damaged by the blowdown. This cost-share program is being managed by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). A local forester will contact you after your application has been approved.
To apply, contact the Farm Service Agency at your local USDA Service Center between Feb. 2 and June 5, 2026.
Sign up for email updates on funding opportunities and recovery resources
- Sign up to receive email updates from the Minnesota DNR about financial assistance, cleanup guidance, and other resources available to landowners and residents impacted by the Bemidji Blowdown.
We will share timely information as programs become available, including funding opportunities, deadlines, and practical next steps for restoring damaged woods and reducing wildfire risk.
Finding a logger
If you need a logger, visit mlep.org to find qualified professionals. Keep in mind:
Decisions made by loggers are heavily influenced by timber markets, which are dynamic.
Coordinating with neighbors can save time and money on a harvest.
Burn debris safely this winter to reduce wildfire risk this spring
One of the safest times to burn brush piles from storm cleanup is when there is an abundance of snow on the ground. Burning brush and debris piles in the winter can help lessen wildfire risk by reducing the amount of available fuel. Removing excess fuels can decrease the intensity and help slow the spread of a wildfire.
While winter is the safest time to burn, there are still risks. Follow safe burning debris practices and wildfire prevention tips to prevent unintentional wildfires. Planning ahead and monitoring throughout the burn helps prevent unintended wildfires.
Wildfire prevention information
Be mindful of smoke while burning
Don’t smoke out your neighbors or nearby roads.
Check the wind direction and weather conditions.
Choose a sunny day with light wind to help disperse smoke.
Keep the fire stoked to prevent smoldering, which produces more smoke.
Instead of one large pile, consider smaller piles that are easier to monitor, keep stoked, and extinguish.
Play it safe: follow fire prevention tips
Protect structures by building small brush piles at least 25 feet away, and larger piles 100 feet away.
Watch your fire the entire time it is actively burning. Large piles can send embers hundreds of feet and start fires far away from your pile. Even with snow on the ground, lofted dead material can still ignite.
Monitor until it’s out COLD. Even in winter, large brush piles can stay hot for days or even weeks. Fire can also spread underground through roots, duff, peat, or other plant material.
Once the snow is gone, recheck your pile to make sure it’s still out.
For questions about wildfire prevention or Firewise, please email us at [email protected]
Burning Permits
You must get a burning permit before burning brush or vegetative debris if there is less than 3 inches of continuous snow cover anytime the fire is larger than 3 feet in diameter or 3 feet in height.
If you are inside a municipal area, check with your local fire chief or city clerk for any additional rules.
Learn more:
Firewise
Reducing fuel around your home and property is one step in becoming Firewise. This national program helps people protect their properties and communities from damage or loss from a wildfire.
The Minnesota Firewise Program offers a free homeowner’s kit that includes a do-it-yourself property assessment and projects that can help reduce risk.
Learn more about how to become Firewise and order your free homeowner’s kit today.