Wildfire

As "green-up" slowly makes its way north, Minnesota's firefighters remain alert to conditions where wildfires can easily spread due to available fuels and dry weather.

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 St. Louis County Land & Minerals' forestry division oversaw the planting of red and white pine seedlings over about 48 acres of tax-forfeited land that had burned.

Research indicates that in the coming decades, the state is likely to see more risk days of wildfires starting on the ground due to more extreme droughts connected to climate change.

A St. Louis County woman is facing charges for a negligent fire on April 22, 2026. Earlier in the week, personnel in the Park Rapids area battled a 10-acre blaze.

Klobuchar visited with Conservation Corps members, local and state fire officials and others during a follow-up on recovery from a devastating wind storm in June 2025.

While spring burning restrictions are in place, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will not issue open burning permits for yard waste.

The National Weather Service says a red flag warning will be in effect from noon to 7 p.m. March 28, 2026.

An estimated 9 million trees around the Bemidji area were damaged or downed in the June 2025 storm. Bemidji Fire Chief Justin Sherwood said planning for spring fire danger has been ongoing since.

Beltrami County Emergency Management is seeking public input as it works to update its hazard mitigation plan for events like floods, drought and severe windstorms.