475 Wildfires Reported Since April 1st

475 wildfires have been reported since April 1st, and state agencies are urging the public to take wildfire danger seriously.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the air quality could be “severely degraded” for a stretch of time with the movement of smoke from Canadian wildfires moving south throughout the state. 

The PCA says the smoke band is narrow but will onset rapidly. They recommend adjusting outdoor plans. Peak heat and low humidity is expected Sunday-Monday. The National Weather Service has placed most of Minnesota under “fire weather watch” conditions for Sunday. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 90s with 40 mile per hour wind gusts.

Fire damage not only threatens property, but fires can also lead to serious injuries and even deaths, the vast majority of which are avoidable. Authorities with the Minnesota Incident Command System say “if you see a wildfire, do not attempt to fight it yourself — call 911 immediately from a safe location”. Officials say wildfires are extremely unpredictable and should be left to the experts to manage. Firefighters are highly trained and properly equipped to respond to wildfires safely. If a fire escapes your control or you spot a wildfire, do not try to handle it yourself. Immediately seek safety and call 911.

Prevention is still the best way to manage wildfire risks. Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving a campfire site. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.

Also remember that any fire larger than 3 feet in diameter and 3 feet high needs a burning permit.