Red Flag Warning Issued for Extreme Fire Risk

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for 39 counties in central, northeast, northwest, and southwest Minnesota due to extreme fire danger.

Effective 7:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. affected counties include Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clay, Clearwater, Grant, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Wadena, and Wilkin.

Effective 10:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. affected counties include Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Itasca.

Effective 11:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. affected counties include Big Stone, Chippewa, Douglas, Lac Qui Parle, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Morrison, Pope, Traverse, Todd, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Renville, Redwood, and Yellow Medicine.

Effective 1:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m. affected counties include Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, and Rock.

A Red Flag Warning means fires can spread quickly and easily progress out of control under the predicted weather conditions, including gusty winds and low relative humidity. Do not burn in counties where a Red Flag Warning is in effect and check any recent burning 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 it’s important to be careful with anything could spark a wildfire,” said Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist.

Red Flag Warnings are evolving situations.  Visit the National Weather Service, (weather.gov) for updates.

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 (mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions). To receive email updates on current wildfire risk and open burning restrictions in Minnesota text “FIRE” to 66468.

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