MINNEAPOLIS — Wednesday's forecast of low humidity and high winds prompted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to issue a Red Flag Warning for several counties in western and southwestern parts of the state.
From noon until 6 p.m. Wednesday, the following counties are asking to avoid outdoor fires:
- Big Stone
- Chippewa
- Lac que Parle
- Lincoln
- Lyon
- Murray
- Pipestone
- Rock
- Pope
- Stevens
- Swift
- Traverse
- Yellow Medicine
On Wednesday afternoon, 14 additional counties were added to the advisory:
- Blue Earth
- Brown
- Cottonwood
- Jackson
- Kandiyohi
- Le Sueur
- Watonwan
- Martin
- McLeod
- Nicollet
- Nobles
- Redwood
- Renville
- Sibley
A Red Flag Warning from the DNR means fires can spread quickly and easily get out of control. Residents are asked to check on any burns from the past several days to make sure they have not rekindled.
No open burning permits will be activated while the Warning is in effect and campfires are discouraged.
"Embers can be carried for over a mile in high winds like this. People should use extreme caution until conditions improve,” said Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist, in a press release.
You can find more information about fire dangers and open burning restrictions on the Minnesota DNR website.
RELATED: Grass fire blackens 1,000 acres near Waseca, fire danger remains elevated in parts of Minnesota
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