ST. PAUL — Got brush or yard waste to burn? Do it soon.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is encouraging homeowners to complete their open burning now because restrictions will take effect soon after the snow melts.

Larry Himanga, the DNR’s fire prevention coordinator, says the safest way to dispose of this vegetation is recycling or composting. But he says homeowners who choose to burn should do it while there’s snow on the ground. A DNR burning permit is not required when there are three or more inches of continuous snow cover, but local restrictions are often stricter.

Spring fire restrictions usually last four to six weeks until the summer green-up. Traditionally, most wildfires occur in April and May, and more than 95 percent of them are caused by human error.