The St. Paul Pioneer Press
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Due to a long stretch of dry weather, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has increased fire danger levels to the highest possible for the northern half of the state.
On Wednesday, the DNR set danger levels at “extreme” for all counties north of Traverse, Stearns and Pine counties.
An “extreme” danger level means “the fire situation is explosive and can result in extensive property damage,” according to DNR literature, which adds that fires “start quickly, spread furiously and burn intensely” under such conditions. A middle section of the state — including Ramsey and Hennepin counties — remains at a “very high” level of fire danger, meaning fires can start easily and spread quickly.
While open burning is prohibited in those areas, campfires are still allowed for all but Cook County in the northeastern corner of the state, but only from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. and in a fire receptacle with a source of water nearby.
So far this year, the state has had nearly 1,000 wildfires covering more than 22,300 acres.
New fires were reported Tuesday by the Bemidji, Warroad, Backus, Detroit Lakes and Hibbing forestry offices of the DNR. And blazes continue to smolder around Tower and near Floodwood Lake.
Virtually all of the fires so far have been caused by people, either accidentally with escaped brush and recreational fires or by arson.
But rain is expected to move into northern Minnesota today, and there’s a chance of rainfall into next week across the region. Most of the area should see enough rain to reduce the fire danger. The weather pattern that has brought weeks of dry air into the region may finally be moving on.
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