Dakota County Conducting Overnight Prescribed Burns at Lebanon Hills Regional Park Through Saturday
Published: May 8, 2026.
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA - Visitors to Lebanon Hills Regional Park may notice smoke, smoldering logs, and temporary trail closures on Friday into Saturday as Dakota County Parks conducts prescribed burns throughout the park.
According to Dakota County Parks, the prescribed fires began Thursday, May 8, and are part of ongoing land management efforts aimed at improving the long-term health of the landscape. Officials said some areas may continue to smolder for up to 48 hours after ignition, allowing larger woody debris to burn naturally and safely.
Park visitors may see smoke or smoldering logs overnight and into Saturday, even when fire crews are not immediately visible nearby. County officials emphasized that this is expected as part of the controlled burn process.
“This process will allow large woody debris to be consumed and mimic a more natural fire on the landscape,” Dakota County Parks stated. “The slow consumption of these larger pieces of woody debris will help with long-term management and health of the landscape.”
Officials said all smoldering material will remain safely contained within burned areas, often referred to as “the black,” where combustible vegetation has already been removed by the fire. Contractors and staff will continue monitoring the burn units around the clock until all material is fully extinguished.
Safety measures outlined by Dakota County Parks include:
No active running fire is being left unattended
Burn units surrounded by mineral soil, “burn breaks,” to contain fire spread
Continuous monitoring of hot spots using drones
Crews on site 24/7 during the smoldering period
Full extinguishment of remaining smoking or smoldering material within 48 hours
County officials also noted that forecasted rain expected Saturday morning could help extinguish much of the remaining smoldering debris sooner than anticipated.
The park will remain open during the prescribed burn operations, though some trails may temporarily close while active fire operations are underway on Friday. Visitors are encouraged to follow posted signage and remain a safe distance from fire crews and burn areas.
Prescribed burns are commonly used by park systems and natural resource agencies to reduce excess vegetation, improve habitat conditions, control invasive species, and lower the risk of uncontrolled wildfires.
Written by: Will Wight
Dakota County Parks/Facebook
