Central Minnesota is seeing grass fires earlier than normal this year — and experts warn recent rain won't be enough to squelch the threat of more fires.
The first week of April is traditionally when John Korzeniowski sees wildfires picking up in central Minnesota. But Korzeniowski, of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources forestry office in Little Falls, Minn., has already seen 10 in his area this year.
"This period between when our snow leaves and things green up is traditionally our busiest fire time here in Minnesota — and we've got a ways to go yet before we hit green-up," Korzeniowski said.
The Stearns County Sheriff's Office responded to two grass fires Sunday: One burned approximately 7 acres just north of Cold Spring, prompting responders to close a county road due to heavy smoke, and the other burned about 1 acre just south of Holdingford. The causes of both fires are unknown.
Central Minnesota is considered abnormally dry following a dry fall and winter with below-average snowfall, while northwestern Minnesota is in a moderate drought, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
This week, the DNR announced spring burning restrictions in several northwestern Minnesota counties, meaning the state won't issue burning permits for brush or yard waste in those counties until restrictions are lifted.
Korzeniowski said he expects burning restrictions in central Minnesota within the next week or two.
"We have a lot of grass fuels in this part of the state and they are quite flammable. It's a lot easier to light a patch of grass than it is a forest, in a lot of cases," he said. "We tend to have quick-running fires and they don't put out some of the heat like a large forest fire would Up North or in California, but they can move fast and they can catch people off guard."
