The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is prohibiting open burning in every Minnesota county except Cook, Lake and northern Saint Louis County in Minnesota's Arrowhead due to growing wildfire danger.
The Interagency Fire Center in Grand Rapids received over 25 reports of active wildfires Wednesday as strong gusty winds, warm temperatures and low humidity produced near-critical fire weather conditions.
"The expanding drought conditions that have really settled in since this summer, along with all that added leaf litter on the ground and the vegetation like grasses that have dried out, there's more dry fuel available for a wildfire to spark," said DNR spokeswoman Leanne Langeberg.
Langeberg says until the state receives significant precipitation -- either rain or snow -- fire danger is expected to remain high.
"If you're just out enjoying a fall campfire, remember to keep it small -- no more than three feet wide by three feet high -- and too, along with that, making sure that that campfire is completely out cold before you leave," Langeberg said,
The largest concentration of wildfire reports Wednesday came in central Minnesota including the Twin Cities. If you spot a wildfire, call 9-1-1 immediately.
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