NW Minn. Fires Cause Northland Haze
Posted at: 10/03/2012 11:33 AM
| Updated at: 10/03/2012 12:15 PM
A weather inversion is keeping smoke from fires in northwestern Minnesota close to the ground in northeastern Minnesota.
Emergency dispatchers have received a number of calls, and Beltrami County reported its phones were being overrun with inquiries. If you smell smoke, there is no need to call 911 unless you see flames.
The Minnesota Interagency Fire Center said reports of smoke have come from Bemidji, Deer River, Grand Rapids, Orr, Cook, Virginia, Hibbing, and Tower. The inversion is expected to lift shortly, but more smoke may come since some fires are still burning.
Much of the smoke is coming from a wildfire burning in the Fourtown area of northwestern Beltrami County. No fires are currently threatening northeastern Minnesota.
Authorities said people who are asthmatic or on oxygen should keep their windows shut and make arrangements to have extra oxygen on hand. People with lung conditions may want to consider temporarily moving to another location of the smoke becomes a problem.
Fire danger remains extreme to very high for much of Minnesota and residents are urged to obey all fire restrictions. More information about current restrictions is available at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html.
 |
Print Story | | |  |
