The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reports that smoke drift from northwestern Minnesota fires being reported across northern Minnesota
Northern Minnesota residents may notice smoke in the sky as it drifts from active northwestern Minnesota fires.
According to the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, a wiildfire is raging across the north end of Beltrami County starting in the Fourtown area.
The fire started approximately 100 miles northwest of Bemidji and is burning in an east/northeast direction.
Residents in the Bemidji, Deer River and Grand Rapids areas have reported seeing smoke in the sky. Smoke is being carried by strong winds out of the northwest and are being held close to the ground by inversion. The inversion is expected to lift by mid-day, but residents across northern Minnesota may continue to see some smoke until fires are extinguished. There are likely to be smoke issues for several days.
Fire danger remains extreme to very high for much of Minnesota and residents are urged to obey all fire restrictions. People who witness an actual fire should reported it immediately by calling 911.
For more information about current restrictions, please visit the DNR website at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html
According to the website, no burning permits are being issued in Koochiching County, but campfires are allowed.
