According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (weather.gov), extreme drought, low humidity and strong winds could create near critical fire conditions in Hubbard, Wadena and Beltrami counties, along with a large portion of west-central and northwest Minnesota now through Sept. 5.
A special weather statement from NOAA on Thursday, Aug. 31 said, “Relative humidity values will drop to near 30%, along with west winds gusting up to 30 mph across northwestern and west-central Minnesota.”
The combination of low humidity and high winds both Friday and Saturday will yield fire concerns.
“Given the dry fuels, near critical fire weather conditions are expected … Any fire that does develop has the potential to quickly spread,” the statement said.
Brad Witkin is an area fire program forester with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Park Rapids.
“Burning permits were shut down for Thursday,” he said.“We will likely leave them off through the holiday weekend with the lower humidity, high temperatures and fuel conditions. It’s quite dry and there will be a lot of people out doing what they do over the long weekend. We want to lessen the chance of wildfires. In 2021, we had some of these same conditions and precautions. Minnesota had a 100-acre fire two weeks ago, near Lancaster, that was caused by humans. Overall, 99% of fires are human caused.”
After being in a severe drought for several weeks, Park Rapids is now classified as being in an extreme drought, according to the DNR drought monitor update released Thursday, Aug. 31.
That update put both southern Hubbard County and most of Wadena county in the “extreme drought” level.
Extreme drought is worse than severe drought. The next and highest drought level is exceptional drought.
According to the DNR, virtually all of Minnesota continues experiencing abnormally dry, moderate, severe or extreme drought conditions.
There is now 10% of the state in extreme drought, increased from 1.75% last week.
Hot and dry weather forecasted over the next two weeks is likely to result in an expansion of severe and extreme drought conditions throughout the state.
Witkin said campfires used for cooking or warming must be three feet in diameter or smaller with an area cleared eight feet around that area of anything combustible and constantly attended.
“I’d also encourage people to have a hose at the ready and keep an eye on it,” he said. “When you’re done, water it, mix it up and make sure things are cold.”
Witkin said people also need to be careful not to drag trailer chains or anything metal object dragging on pavement that might cause a spark.
“If an ATV exhaust system is not properly maintained that could also cause a fire,” he said. “And be careful with cigarette butts when smoking.”
Anyone who spots a potential fire should immediately call 911.
Lorie Skarpness has lived in the Park Rapids area since 1997 and has been writing for the Park Rapids Enterprise since 2017. She enjoys writing features about the people and wildlife who call the north woods home.
