MY SWEATSHIRT REEKS of smoke, as if I’ve been sitting around a campfire for hours.
But in reality, I’ve only stepped into my backyard for several minutes, into the strong scent of smoke drifting from across the street a few houses away.
Honestly, I could not believe my eyes. Who, in their right mind, would burn leaves in tinder dry conditions like this? Apparently my neighbor.
Only an hour ago, I heard a local radio broadcaster announce a burning ban issued by the sheriff in Rice County. Given the dry conditions, only recreational campfires and grilling are allowed.
Recreational campfires like this one are still allowed. I gathered with extended family around this campfire in Waseca on March 24. This photo is for illustration purposes only.
The National Weather Service has issued a “red flag warning” for the western half of Minnesota from the northern to southern borders. Gusty winds and low relative humidity in an already dry landscape are creating “critical fire weather conditions,” according to the NWS.
Heed the warning, Minnesotans. Use common sense. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or a warning from the NWS or a directive from the sheriff to tell you that burning leaves, or anything else for that matter, today or anytime soon would be a very bad idea.
I kept expecting to hear the wail of fire trucks racing to my neighbor’s house. I live along a heavily-traveled street. It’s happened before that a passerby has called the fire department when a neighbor has been burning leaves.
HAVE YOU HAD any fires in your neighborhood today or recently? If so, send me a report via a comment.
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
YES! There have been ENORMOUS fires around here lately – none out of control that I’m aware of, but all just huge, and scary looking! The kind where you see it’s in the general direction of your house as you’re driving home and you begin to pray… I assume we’re not in a burn ban…though I don’t know for sure!
How frightening to see the smoke and worry. I understand. We once came home from a Saturday night event at church. As were started down the hill, I could see emergency lights flashing red in the night and prayed, too, that it wasn’t our house. A house a block away burned to the ground.
And, yes, a burning ban exists today and into tomorrow in Rock County.
As I’m writing this reply, a sheriff’s department squad car and fire trucks are speeding by my house.
Oy. We’re in Nobles county – almost Oseola County in Iowa, and I should check to see if we have one or not…
Got it, Nobles County. Given the entire western side of MN is in a red flag warning, I figured you were included.
Yeah, I didn’t realize it was so bad. The wind today sure isn’t helping. It’s just not right when WA and OR are getting way too much rain and we over here need it so badly…
Apparently we are in one! I just saw the headline pop up! It must have just begun, though…
Oh, that’s not good about all the fires. We usually have a total fire ban during summer but not this year – it didn’t stop raining! xx
We could use some rain and it looks like we may get some tomorrow.
It’s the same over here, no proper rain for months , hosepipes are banned now. The sky looks black today though probably because it’s the Easter holiday. Patrick
I hope you had a wonderful Easter, Patrick, and maybe some rain, too.