The $1,000 Fire Pit Mistake: 11 Things Banned From Burning in Minnesota

Imagine my absolute embarrassment when the fire department rolled up to my house.

I was sitting outside having a beer with my neighbor when we saw the big red fire truck make the turn down our street. We watched it crawl all the way down the block until it parked directly in front of my driveway. Next thing I know, three firefighters are climbing out and walking up to tell me they got a call about heavy smoke.

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I had just trimmed some bushes and tossed the fresh branches into my backyard fire pit. Yeah, it created a couple of minutes of smoke, but nothing crazy and definitely nothing that warranted an emergency response. Turns out, a "concerned" neighbor called 911 to complain.

I felt horrible that these guys had to suit up and rush over for nothing; by the time they arrived, the fire was out.

I probably apologized a dozen times and even offered them a beer. They politely declined and were incredibly cool about it, but before they left, they handed me a flier detailing the strict rules for backyard burning.

Is Your Fire Legal? Check the 11 Things Banned by Minnesota Statute 88.171

It turns out there’s a massive list of items that are completely illegal to burn in your backyard. Thankfully, I got a warning, but violators could get slapped with a misdemeanor and face jail time and/or a big fine.

To save you from the ultimate neighborhood embarrassment (and a surprise visit from your local fire department), scroll through the gallery below to see exactly what is legally prohibited.