DNR Warns Of Extreme Fire Danger In Parts Of The State

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The fire danger is high this weekend.

On Friday, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported dozens of fires.

Jean Goad is a public information officer for the Minnesota Incident Command System.

"The DNR did respond to 36 fires [Friday]," Goad said. "Most of those were in that high fire danger area."

The high to extreme fire danger could continue through Sunday.

"There are burning restrictions in almost all of the counties in Minnesota," She said. "You can't burn debris piles or anything, and then there are additional restrictions. So there are no variances today."

Goad said extreme fire danger means that fires under extreme conditions start quickly, spread rapidly and burn intensely.

Low humidity and strong winds are making for a potentially explosive situation, the DNR said.

"I was picking up some of the grass and twigs as we were walking, and it was the same thing. As you are walking you hear them crunch, very loud. That's not normal this time of year. That's something you hear in fall or summer," said Rebecca Barndard, the forest certification coordinator.

The DNR says fire danger is extreme in western half of the state.