Red Flag Wildfire Alert Issued for 37 Counties in Minnesota — Embers Capable of Traveling Over a Mile - video Dailymotion

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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has announced a Red Flag Alert affecting 37 counties in central and northern Minnesota due to a perilous mix of wind gusts reaching 50 mph, extremely low humidity levels, and drought-stricken vegetation. State wildfire prevention expert Karen Harrison cautioned that under such conditions, embers can travel over a mile from a blaze, potentially igniting new fires well ahead of firefighting teams. This alert is issued as about 60 percent of the continental U.S. is experiencing drought, leading to heightened fire risks in areas not typically known for significant wildfire threats.

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00:00Minnesota is under a rare and dangerous red flag warning covering 37 counties.

00:05And fire officials are warning that embers could travel more than a mile in today's high winds.

00:10The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources issued the warning for May 14th through 15th.

00:16Covering central and northern Minnesota, wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour,

00:21combined with critically low humidity and dry vegetation,

00:24have created conditions where any fire could spread with extraordinary speed.

00:29DNR wildfire specialist Karen Harrison issued a direct warning.

00:34Embers can be carried over a mile from an active fire, sparking new ignitions far ahead of the fire line.

00:40Open burning permits have been suspended, and campfires are strongly discouraged.

00:45This is not a region normally associated with catastrophic wildfire risk,

00:49but 60% of the continental United States is now in drought.

00:54An extreme fire danger is appearing in places that rarely see it.

00:58All residents in the warning area must avoid any activity that could produce a spark outdoors.

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Red Flag Wildfire Alert Issued for 37 Counties in Minnesota — Embers Capable of Traveling Over a Mile

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