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Lack of snow, warm weather cause wildfires statewide- three departments fight blaze near North Branch North Branch Feb. 14Just because there may be snow out your window doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful about fire. February may not be the time of year people think about fire danger, but conditions are prevalent for fires around the state. Meteorologists are predicting sunny, warm, windy weather this weekend and those are just the conditions needed for wildfires, said Paul Peterson, DNR Regional Fire Program coordinator. "Our plane flew central Minnesota and the north Twin Cities metro area yesterday," Peterson said. "We are virtually snow free north of the metro area." The lack of snow and mild winter are causing the fire season to arrive a bit early this year. The DNR and area fire departments have been responding to grass fires in the Cambridge/Twin Cities metro areas and central Minnesota. Grass and woody fuels are igniting easily and the fires are spreading rapidly. The most recent fire occurred in Chisago County, burning 40 acres. It spread rapidly and required the suppression efforts of three fire departments and two DNR crews. Live coals from a wood stove caused the fire. Warm and windy conditions spread ashes from these coals. "Strange as it may seem, scattered snow was observed in 5 to 10 percent of the adjacent areas," said John Nelson, DNR Cambridge Area Forestry supervisor. "Just because you see snow out your window doesn't mean there is not fire danger." In central Minnesota, there were three fires of more than 100 acres reported. A fire in McGregor burned 160 acres on Monday and threatened two farmsteads. A fire in the Aitkin area a week ago burned 200 plus acres. A fire in Pequot Lakes burned 120 acres Wednesday night. Fire departments and the DNR are urging the public to exercise great caution when doing any outdoor burning. People should remember to check fires the next morning and several days thereafter, Nelson said, because rekindling can occur. Checking coals can prevent a wildfire, he said. Burning permits are required when the ground is not snow-covered. ©ECM Post Review |