The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for 13 counties in northern Minnesota effective Sunday, July 13, from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. due to extreme fire danger. 

Affected counties include Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Marshall, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Roseau, and St. Louis.

A Red Flag Warning means fires can spread quickly and grow out of control under the predicted weather conditions, including very high temperatures, strong wind gusts, and low relative humidity.

Residents should:

• Not burn vegetative debris or brush. The DNR will not issue or activate open burning permits for large vegetative debris burning.
• Check any recent burning including campfires to ensure the fire is completely out.
• Consider not having a campfire during the restrictions. If you do, make sure it is always supervised, under 3 feet tall, and is out COLD before you leave. 
• Use caution when doing activities that can cause sparks or heat near vegetation by securing trailer chains, parking ATVs on gravel or pavement, and using chainsaws or other equipment outside of the Red Flag warning hours.

Map showing the counties with a Red Flag warning in pink.

Enhanced burning restrictions continue

Enhanced burning restrictions are in place in Cook, Lake, and northern St. Louis counties. 

This means:

• Campfires are not allowed for dispersed, remote, backpacking, or backcountry camping on all state-managed, private, and local lands, whether there is a designated fire ring, or not. On state lands, this means campfires are not allowed in state forests, including their campgrounds, state day-use or recreational areas, or backpacking sites in state parks.
• Fireworks are not allowed outside city limits. 
• Burning restrictions will not be issued or activated. 

These restrictions are consistent with burning restrictions that are being implemented by the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and Voyageurs National Park. In addition, the U.S. Forest Service has issued restrictions for all campfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Superior National Forest including Cook, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis counties. 

Learn More

Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches are evolving situations. Visit the National Weather Service (weather.gov) for updates. 

For more information and daily updates visit the statewide fire danger and burning restrictions page of the DNR website.

To receive text updates on current fire risk and open burning restrictions in Minnesota text “FIRE” to 66468.