The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for 80 of the 87 counties in Minnesota, effective today, May 12, due to extreme fire risk conditions.
Affected counties include Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago,, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac Qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, St. Louis, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Wright, and Yellow Medicine.
A Red Flag Warning means fires can spread quickly and grow out of control under current and predicted weather conditions, including gusty winds and low relative humidity. Residents should not burn in counties where a Red Flag Warning is in effect and should check any recent burning they might have done to ensure the fire is completely out. The DNR will not issue or activate open burning permits for large vegetative debris burning during the Red Flag Warning, and campfires are discouraged.
“When fire risk is this high, any spark could become a wildfire,” said Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist. “People should use extreme caution until conditions improve.”
Red Flag Warnings are evolving situations. Visit the National Weather Service (weather.gov) for more information and updates.
