Overview
- The expanded alert covers 54 Minnesota counties and reaches into Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana.
- Forecasters point to low humidity, warm temperatures and gusts that can top 35 mph in parts of northern Minnesota, which make fires start and spread faster.
- The Minnesota DNR told people not to burn, paused permits for large vegetative debris fires and discouraged campfires.
- Officials urged residents to recheck any recent burns to confirm they are fully out, noting embers can ride the wind for more than a mile and ignite spot fires.
- Red flag warnings signal critical fire-weather conditions, and nearby areas under fire weather watches could see those watches upgraded as conditions worsen.