Wildfire danger high across most of Minnesota, open burning prohibited everywhere except far northeast

The D-N-R is prohibiting open burning in every Minnesota county except Cook, Lake and northern Saint Louis County in Minnesota’s Arrowhead due to growing wildfire danger.   The Interagency Fire Center in Grand Rapids received over 25 reports of active wildfires yesterday (Wed) as strong gusty winds, warm temperatures and low humidity produced near-critical fire weather conditions.   Spokeswoman Leanne Langeberg:

“The expanding drought conditions that have really settled in since this summer, along with all that added leaf litter on the ground and the vegetation like grasses that have dried out, there’s more dry fuel available for a wildfire to spark.”

Langeberg says until the state receives significant precipitation — either rain or snow — fire danger is expected to remain high.