Minnesota Fires

Daily Wildfire Report for Minnesota - April 22, 2026

Overview

Minnesota is experiencing an elevated fire risk due to the seasonal transition into spring. The period immediately following snowmelt and before spring green-up is consistently the most dangerous time of year for wildfires in the state, historically accounting for about 75% of all Minnesota wildfires. Dead brush, dry grasses, and dormant vegetation left over from winter blanket the landscape, creating highly available fuel for wildfires to start and spread. State and local resources are actively monitoring the situation and managing incident objectives as fire activity picks up.

Current Situation

Fire Activity: Fire activity is steadily increasing as the snow disappears and temperatures rise across the state. Firefighters and local agencies are actively responding to smaller grass and brush fires to suppress them before they can grow into significant incidents. Escaped fire from burning vegetative debris remains the number one cause of wildfires in Minnesota.

Key Fires: Currently, there are no large, extended-attack wildland fires burning in Minnesota. However, the risk for new starts remains extreme. The primary fuels feeding the current fire risk include dry grasses, brush, timber, and slash.

Prescribed Burns and Land Management: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has significantly expanded spring burning restrictions as warm, dry weather spreads across the state. As of this week, open burning restrictions cover 44 counties in total, including recent additions in northern Minnesota such as Becker, Beltrami North, Carlton, and St. Louis counties. The DNR will not issue permits for the open burning of brush or yard waste in these counties until restrictions are lifted. Residents are encouraged to use alternatives like composting, chipping, or hauling brush to a local collection site.

Weather and Wind Warnings

Current Weather: The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for 54 counties in Minnesota for Wednesday, April 22, due to extreme fire risk. This follows a highly volatile start to the week where 66 counties were under similar warnings.
Forecasted Weather: Strong winds and low relative humidity have created conditions that allow fires to ignite easily and spread rapidly. The combination of high wind gusts and dry air will continue to pose a significant threat until the state sees significant rainfall or the vegetation fully greens up.

Recommendations

Public Awareness: Residents are urged to use extreme caution with any activities that could cause sparks. This includes securing trailer chains, parking ATVs on gravel or pavement, and avoiding the use of lawnmowers or hot engines near tall, dry grasses. Officials warn that embers can be carried for over a mile in the current high winds. Residents in affected counties are advised not to burn and to check any recent burn sites to ensure fires are completely out cold.
Resource Allocation: Local fire departments and DNR Forestry Division crews are on high alert for rapid initial attack on new starts. Agencies are constantly monitoring weather, fuel types, and live and dead fuel moisture levels to adjust burning restrictions and resource deployment as needed.

Resources

For up-to-date emergency information, residents can visit:
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC): www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
Minnesota DNR Fire Danger and Burning Restrictions: mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions

Stay informed and prepared by monitoring these resources regularly.