At press time on Wednesday, April 15, Cook County fire departments were prepared for the worst after notification went out from the National Weather Service that it was a “red flag” day. That means that conditions are ideal for wildland fire combustion and rapid spread. Local fire departments, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Forest Service firefighting personnel have already responded to four grass fires this week.
There were three fire-related calls on Tuesday, April 14, all within a few hours. Cook County Law Enforcement received a call at 11:29 a.m. from its Lake County counterpart, reporting a grass fire west of the Cook-Lake county line. At 12:02 p.m., a caller reported “a plume of smoke on the west side of the Caribou River.”
A page went out to the Schroeder, Tofte and Lutsen fire departments and Tofte First Responders to stand by in case they were needed. By 11:47 p.m. U.S. Forest Service and DNR personnel from Lake County were able to extinguish the fire and at 12:56 p.m., the Cook County emergency responders were informed that they could stand down, the blaze was under control.
At 12:03 p.m., Cook County Law Enforcement received a call from DNR Forestry personnel on the east end of the county, reporting a small grass fire under the power line near Judge Magney State Park in Hovland. The DNR personnel were in an engine and were able to quickly extinguish that fire.
Another call to report a fire came in at 12:52 p.m., also from DNR Forestry, reporting that a logger’s equipment had caught fire on the Bally Creek Road in Grand Marais. The logger, Ron Clement, was able to get the fire out, but the DNR did respond to confirm that the fire was out.
Yet another fire response call went out at 11:52 a.m. the next day, on Wednesday, April 15. A caller reported that there was a grass fire “about 100- feet long” about a mile up the Cramer Road in Schroeder. The Schroeder Fire Department responded and by 12:05 p.m. the fire had been extinguished.
Cook County residents and visitors are reminded that DNR burning restrictions are in effect. Under these restrictions the state will not allow open burning of brush and yard debris. Burning restrictions occur in the spring when the snow melts, and fuels like dry grass and leaves are exposed to dry winds and increased fire potential. Restrictions remain in place until sufficient green up, usually four to six weeks during April and May.
The lack of snow this winter and little rainfall has contributed to a drier than normal spring. The number one cause of most spring wildfires is the burning of yard debris.
Residents can find the latest burning restrictions at www.mndnr.gov/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html or contact the local DNR forestry office to obtain current information on fire danger and burning restrictions. Burning restrictions do not apply to campfires; they are still allowed. However, extreme caution is advised. Although Cook County received some snow the day after the burn restrictions were enacted and it rained earlier this week, property owners and forest users are reminded that conditions can very change quickly.
The 2007 Ham Lake wildfire, which burned 75,000 acres and approximately 138 structures, began with a small campfire.
Consider wind conditions and clear an area around the campfire, watch the fire continuously, and make sure it is out and cold to the touch before leaving the area.
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