The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Red Flag Warning for seven northwest counties in Minnesota due to extreme fire risk on Sunday. The warning is expected to be in effect from noon until 8 p.m. for Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau counties. Most of the state is also under high fire danger conditions. Karen Harrison, a DNR wildfire prevention specialist, cautioned that embers can travel long distances in high winds, posing a significant fire risk. Residents are advised to exercise extreme caution until conditions improve.
A Red Flag Warning indicates that fires can quickly spread and become uncontrollable under the predicted weather conditions, including strong winds and low humidity levels. Residents in the affected counties are urged not to burn anything and to ensure any recent burning is completely extinguished. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will not issue open burning permits for large vegetative debris burning during the Red Flag Warning, and campfires are discouraged. Updates on current Red Flag Warnings can be found on the National Weather Service website, and information on fire danger and burning restrictions is available on the DNR website.
To receive email updates about wildfire risk and open burning restrictions in Minnesota, text “FIRE” to 66468.