TO ENTER HOURS INTO THE FIREWISE FORM, CLICK HERE.
Deer Lake is in the highest risk area of Minnesota for forest fires.
We (the Deer Lake Association) have been awarded a $10,000 Firewise matching grant for
2025-26 from the Minnesota DNR. The “matching” part means the DNR will compensate the
association for fire mitigation work done by DLA members. This is an easy way to turn the time
spent on your property into money that the DLA can use for its various programs.
There are two parts to Firewise. The first part deals with the time spent by DLA members
defending their property from fire risk. All of the efforts we report count towards the $5,000
the DLA puts up to be matched by the DNR. In other words, the DLA can earn up to $5,000
depending on how much “in kind” work HOURS are reported.
The second part of the program deals with brush pile pickup. We do not yet have a contractor
for brush pile pickup. More information will be provided in the future.
Jessica Loes and I (Beth Riesgraf-Wyman) will be the contact people for Firewise effort
documentation. Here is their contact information:
• Jessica Loes jessica.l.loes@gmail.com (763-360-2617) 37523 CR 19, Deer River 56636
• Beth Riesgraf-Wyman briesgraf1952@gmail.com (320-492-9595) 39249 E Thorpe AV, Deer River
56636
To take advantage of the program, you must become a DLA member if not already. The DLA membership form is available here.
•To log your hours, fill out this form (also linked above), entering estimates for annual hours worked for yard work or home/driveway upgrades. This can include work you do or work you hire. You may put multiple entries in the form, if you would like to document your work as you do it.
• Form submission deadline is Dec. 31 st , 2025. If you would prefer not to submit a hard copy of your hours, you can return your hours to the above addresses. If your last name begins with letter A-M, return your form to Jessica Loes. Otherwise, return it to Beth Riesgraf-Wyman.
If you are able, you can simply take a picture of your completed form and email it to the appropriate contact.
• Remember that you must be a DLA member to participate. If you are not currently a
member, return the DLA membership form and dues with your tracking form.
Fire risk mitigation activities include:
• Tree removal, stand reduction, vertical fuel abatement and understory conifer removal.
• Minimum 30-foot defensible space as a barrier between an ignition source and a
wildland fuel complex.
• Fuel breaks (hardwood, bare ground or DNR-approved vegetative grass) 100 feet
beyond the 30-foot minimum.
• Planting for fire prevention. (plants that grow without accumulating large amounts
of combustible dead branches, needles or leaves, have low total vegetation,
have low sap/resin content, have high moisture content, grow slowly, grow close
to the ground).