Most of Minnesota is again under a Red Flag Warning on Wednesday, April 22, while the rest of the state faces near-critical fire weather conditions.
The warning is in effect until 8 p.m. due to extreme fire risk conditions. The National Weather Service expanded the Red Flag Warning through 27 additional counties Wednesday after much of southeastern Minnesota was part of the warning Tuesday.
A Red Flag Warning means fires can spread quickly and grow out of control under the predicted weather conditions, including strong winds and low relative humidity. The weather service in Duluth reported in its forecast that southeast winds of 10-20 mph are expected with gusts up to 30 mph. Relative humidity is expected to be as low as 19%.
Residents should not burn in counties where a Red Flag Warning is in effect and should also check any recent burning they did to ensure the fire is completely out.
Additional counties include Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carver, Cass, Crow Wing, Douglas, Freeborn, Grant, Hubbard, Itasca, Le Sueur, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Stearns, Steele, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Waseca, Wilkin and Wright.
A Red Flag Warning continues to be in effect in Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Stevens, Swift, Watonwan and Yellow Medicine counties.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will not issue or activate open burning permits for large vegetative debris burning and discourages campfires during the Red Flag Warning.
People should use caution when doing activities that can cause sparks or heat near vegetation by securing trailer chains, parking all-terrain vehicles on gravel or pavement and using chain saws or other equipment outside of the Red Flag warning hours.
“When fire risk is this high, it’s important to be careful with anything that could spark a wildfire,” stated Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist.
For more information and daily updates on current fire risk and open burning restrictions, visit the statewide fire danger and burning restrictions page of the DNR website.
To receive text updates on current fire risk and open burning restrictions in Minnesota text “FIRE” to 66468.
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