With extreme fire risk conditions across northwest Minnesota today, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the following counties: Clay, Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau and Wilkin.
Becker, Otter Tail, Mahnomen, Hubbard, Wadena, and other area counties are also at dangerously high risk of fire today and tonight, according to a special weather statement put out by the National Weather Service in Grand Forks.
In Becker and surrounding counties, relative humidity values will drop to around 20 percent Thursday afternoon and early evening. Southwest winds will also increase to 10 to 20 mph. “Given the extremely dry fuels, near critical fire weather conditions are expected for the afternoon and early evening hours,” the Weather Service said.
The special weather warning includes the cities of Detroit Lakes, Perham, Mahnomen, Wadena, Park Rapids, Bemidji, and Fergus Falls, as well as Naytahwaush, Waubun, Alida, Ebro, Lake Itasca, Long Lost Lake, Lower Rice Lake, Roy Lake, Upper Rice Lake, Wolf Lake, New York Mills, Parkers Prairie, Henning, Battle Lake, Menahga, Elbow Lake, Hoffman, Ashby, Herman, Barrett, Baudette, Red Lake, Redby, Ponemah, Bagley, and Clearbrook.
The special weather statement is similar to a Red Flag Warning, which means the area is experiencing critical weather conditions that are ideal for wildfire, including strong winds and low humidity. Do not burn while the Red Flag Warning remains in effect and check any burning done recently to ensure the fire is out. Any spark could become a wildfire under Red Flag conditions.
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The Red Flag Warning expires at 8 p.m.
Stay connected, stay safe:
Check the statewide fire danger and current burning restrictions webpage, which the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources updates daily.
