Over 25 wildfires reported across state as burn restrictions remain in place
MINNEAPOLIS -- Flames tore through parts of Minnesota Wednesday as our unusual weather turns the state into a tinder box.
Most of Minnesota is under burning restrictions due to increased wildfire risk due to dry conditions.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the fire danger is "very high" throughout most of the lower half of the state, but also in areas of northern Minnesota, too.
Due to this, most of the state is under a "no open burning" restriction, with campfires allowed. In an area of central Minnesota, burning is allowed only with an agency-approved permit.
The DNR tells WCCO there are two threats: people losing control of a controlled fire, and fires popping up unexpectedly.
"Extreme drought conditions in combination with dry fall vegetation, low humidity, and wind make for dangerous fire conditions," said Allissa Reynolds, DNR wildfire prevention supervisor. "Restricting open burning prevents a burn pile from escaping and becoming a wildfire."
The Minnesota Interagency Fire Center says it received more than 25 reports of wildfires throughout the state Wednesday, including one near a lake in Circle Pines and another burning a wildlife management area in Columbus.
The DNR says a majority of these fires are caused by humans.
The largest concentration of wildfires happened in the central region of the state, where drought conditions are extreme.
The Bloomington Fire Department shared pictures of a backyard fire they say quickly spread to other yards.
And on Sunday in Barnesville - just Southeast of Fargo - a man was killed and several cars destroyed by an out-of-control grass fire.
The restriction allows campfires, but even the DNR says campfires can be one of the most dangerous threats.
"Especially in the fall, it's really problematic that fires can hold that heat in the ground quite a long time. So you might think your campfire is out, two or three days go by, the wind picks up and it can get out of control," said Reynolds. "Depending on how deep into the soil it's burning, if it's getting down to that organic layer…that peat layer, that can burn for months. Sometimes even over the winter."
That's why the DNR recommends you think twice before burning, and take precautions if you do.
"We ask people to actually put water in it, mix it around, and then touch it with your hand. If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave," said Reynolds.
The DNR says they will also have increased concerns this weekend as deer season kicks off. There will be even more equipment and campfires across the state, so they're encouraging hunters to take extra precautions with the current conditions.
Check out an interactive map of fire danger and burning restrictions. Burning restrictions will be adjusted as conditions change.
