Crookston Fire Chief Shane Heldstab has informed KROX that there is no Open Burning in Polk County today, but campfires are still allowed.
The National Weather Service has issued a Near Critical Fire Weather condition advisory for northwestern Minnesota. The advisory includes the cities of Crookston, East Grand Forks, Hallock, Karlstad, Lancaster, Roseau, Warroad, Greenbush, Baudette, Warren, Stephen, Argyle, Newfolden, Middle River, Grygla, Red Lake, Redby, Ponemah, Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls, Fosston, Fertile, McIntosh, Erskine, Bagley, Clearbrook, and Bemidji.
Relative humidity values will drop to around 20 percent along with northwesterly winds gusting 10 – 20 mph across northwestern Minnesota. Given the extremely dry fuels, near-critical fire weather conditions are expected for the afternoon and early evening hours today. Any fire that does develop has the potential to quickly spread.
