Bu, that doesn’t mean this dry spell is over. Even with the new snow, the potential for wildfires remains high in the Twin Cities.
Despite the moisture, there is there is a red flag warning in Anoka County.
“What a red flag warning means is extreme danger, or extreme risk for wildland fires,” said SBM Fire Chief Dan Retka. “It doesn’t take much to get something going again.”
“With how dry it’s been and a lack of moisture, it’s created extreme fire conditions,” Retka said. “In our area, all over the state.”
According to MPR News, the storm dumped 10.3 inches of snow on Blaine from Sunday to Monday. However, that is not enough to ease the drought.
“The ground is so dry right now, as that snow melts it’s just going to dissipate right into the ground or evaporate very quickly,” Retka said. “There’s so much dead grass, dead vegetation out there right now, it’s just not going to be enough moisture.”
“I never remember anything this dry”
Dating back to 2023, the Twin Cities has experienced the weather gamut – floods, drought and an unusually mild winter.
“I never remember anything this dry,” Retka said. “This is unheard of.”
Retka believes if this dry pattern continues, there could be a lot of grass fires in 2024.
“Anoka County was actually put in a red flag warning multiple times already this year which is pretty early,” Retka said…”It’s downright scary right now for our entire state. It’s very bad. It’s shaping up to be a very busy grass season.”
Whatever happens, SBM firefighters are preparing and training just in case. Of course the public can do their part, by not being careless and adhering to the current burning ban.
“The best message I can give is it doesn’t take much right now,” Retka said. “Cigarette out the window, barbecuing, things like that. If you’re barbecuing, be smart about it. If you’re using a charcoal grill make sure you close the grates, so those burning charcoal embers don’t fly around. Let it burn itself out. Absolutely no recreational fires right now. We’re under a complete burning ban.”
Wildfires take a toll on fire departments
Responding to grass fires with a footprint over an acre requires a tremendous amount of personnel and equipment to put out the blaze.
It definitely takes a toll on a fire department and can potentially threaten neighborhoods.
“We’re building houses all over, up against wild land,” Retka said. “We could potentially lose a home with these fast moving grass fires… You can’t burn right now and I think it’s for everyone to know that. We get into the spring weather, people are going to want to get outside, have a good time, enjoy their backyards. We need to be smart about it.”
Until restrictions are lifted, the Minnesota DNR is not giving out permits to burn brush or yard waste in 38 counties, including Anoka and Hennepin.
