Three large fires in Northern Minnesota are now about 90% contained according to officials. That is relatively good news as the state deals with some rare, early-season fires - but it doesn't mean we are out of the woods.
Summer-like temperatures and low humidity are predicted for Minnesota this weekend and that is increasing the likelihood of new fires popping up. Conditions are still dry in the northern part of the state so anything that gets going has plenty of fuel.
"In the coming days, we're looking at hot and dry conditions with relative humidity values falling to 20 to 30% in northeast Minnesota," says National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Moore. "And while it's not gonna be as windy as it was back in early to mid May when we had these significant, the significant fire growth, it's still gonna be hot and dry enough that we could see fires rapidly grow."
Moore says conditions are very dry. About one inch of rain per month would be needed to get out of an ongoing drought.
The forecast for the summer isn't helping.
"We are looking at, for the month of June, temperatures remaining above normal," says Moore. "The odds look like it will stay in a pretty warm weather pattern through June and into July and August."
As of May 29, the U.S. Drought Monitor continues to list much of northern Minnesota as abnormally dry, with pockets of moderate drought in the north-central part of the state.
Authorities are now focusing their attention on recovery efforts after the three fires destroyed thousands of acres.
Allison Farole is the new Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management director.
"This is going to be a process and a situation that's not going to be a sprint," Farole explains. "It's not gonna move fast, but we as HSCM are going to continue to be alongside St. Louis County and other counties that are impacted by these fires along with regional, state and federal partners as we go through this process."
More than 150 structures burned in the wildfires, and 30 homes were destroyed.