Gorgeous weather — clear skies, mild temperatures and low humidity — may be making for a pleasant spring in the Twin Cities and surrounding communities, but those are also ingredients for igniting wildfires, according to state conservation officials.
The forecast of little to no rain this week has thrust much of the state into a dangerous fire category, the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said Monday.
Nearly all of Minnesota is covered by a "high" risk of fire. A handful of counties in the center of the state and a few spots in the northern parts of the state are listed as having a "moderate" danger.
Adding to the situation, the DNR said, is that much of the foliage around the state is well behind schedule for greening up.
New growth is just beginning in southern Minnesota, and the lack of significant rain is keeping things brown. Until green-up takes hold, even significant rains only lessen the fire danger for a short time.
The DNR statement said that perhaps by the weekend, enough rain will fall to offer "the first shot at a significant change in fire danger."
For a county-by-county breakdown on fire risk and burning restrictions, visit http://bit.ly/1gJcgeg.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
