The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for 35 counties in parts of northwest, west central, and southwest Minnesota today, May 12, due to extreme fire risk conditions.
Affected counties include: Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Faribault, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Watonwan, Wilkin, and Yellow Medicine.
A Red Flag Warning means fires can spread quickly and grow out of control under the predicted weather conditions, including low relative humidity and strong winds.
Residents should:
- Not burn in counties where a Red Flag Warning is in effect
- Check any recent burning to ensure the fire is completely out. Embers can stay warm for days, even months, and reignite in Red Flag conditions.
- Use caution when doing activities that can cause sparks or heat near vegetation such as securing trailer chains, parking ATVs on gravel or pavement, and using chainsaws or other equipment outside of the Red Flag warning hours
The DNR will not issue or activate open burning permits for large vegetative debris burning and discourages campfires during the Red Flag Warning.
