I'm a little nervous about the 2024 fire season. It has been far too mild of a winter. I live on the crest of the Sawtooth Mountains near Grand Marais and we only have about 2 or 3 inches of snow on the ground right now. By this time we typically have over a foot of snow. If this pattern continues, I'm extremely worried of a Ham Lake type event occurring. My concerns are deepened when considering that we have had much of the forest up here killed or damaged by Spruce Budworm. I was camping on Brule Lake August 2023 and almost the entire forest of pine trees was red. They were all dead. I can never remember ever seeing something like this. Does anyone remember the winter conditions in 2006-2007 before Ham Lake?

I'm not an expert on the subject but I would have to venture a guess that it's less about Winter snowpack than it is about consistent rainfall throughout the Spring and Summer. The Rockies, Cascades, and Sierras get 25'+ of snow most years and they still have wildfires because they dont see much rain in the Spring and Summer and the air is dry. On average, 10 inches of snow is equivalent to only an inch of rain, which can easily fall in a matter of a couple hours up there during a heavy event. And precipitation in one season isn't necessarily an indicator of precipitation in the other 3 seasons, such as one of the wettest Falls I think we've had in decades this year followed now by one of the least snowiest Winters. Snowpack of course is important for a lot of other things like water levels, wildlife, rivers, etc.

Honestly, it's a crapshoot but I too have the same concerns. I'm hoping for a very wet April and May and consistent rain through September (even though my basement would fair better with the opposite).

Winter of 2006-2007 had a prolonged bit of -20 to-30 temps in January and early February. Ice was excellent, snow cover was adequate for skiing and mushing heavily loaded dogsleds. Almost no slush and travel was awesome.

There was still snow in the woods when the ham lake fire started.

IIRC the summer and fall of 2006 were really dry and the following winter snowpack was less than normal. The drought conditions persisted into the summer of 2007.

I share your concerns about drought conditions and wildfire. We need a really wet spring.

Reviving this thread. I heard from a family member in the forest service that their summer firefighter interns have arrived in the Gunflint ranger district because of fire concerns.

I am on the fire department for a town in SE Minnesota and we have already had several grass fire calls this year which is crazy for the time of year. It is so dry and has been windy nearly every day. Rain is forecasted for Thursday but not much after that.
On a side note there was quite a large wildfire over by Waseca about a week and a half ago. Just crazy. Hopefully we get some good rainfall spread out over the spring time to help things out.

30 years of wildland firefighting for me, this year is setting up to be a doosey, but time will tell.

2,300 acres burn 8 miles south of Fergus Falls, MN.

LindenTree: "30 years of wildland firefighting for me, this year is setting up to be a doosey, but time will tell.


2,300 acres burn 8 miles south of Fergus Falls, MN. "

I agree, no snowpack to run off at all and with no snow it makes potential fire season this spring all ready.
It could get interesting. Right now, it is usually grass fires, but I have been in the woods around Brainerd and the leaves are very dry and not even matted down from the snow as a normal spring would be.

Split Rock Light House had a vegetation fire yesterday. Not much about it yet in the papers. The fire was controlled after burning about 1 acre.

Split Rock LH fire

The frightening thing about this is the fact that it is March. I can't ever remember fires on the north shore in March. Granted they were insignificant in size and impacts, but still...

Exactly Spokane. We will need spring rains or firefighters are going to have a heck of a hog rassel.
The earliest I remember fighting a wildland fire was around the 3rd week in March, 2003. This was in western MN by Detroit Lakes where fire season typicaally starts earlier than it does on the north shore, or even up the hill.

LindenTree: "Split Rock Light House had a vegetation fire yesterday. Not much about it yet in the papers. The fire was controlled after burning about 1 acre.

Split Rock LH fire "

Drone Grounds helicopter-Split Rock

toastedmarshmallow12: "That is not true"

Explain Why?

CASTLE DANGER — A helicopter battling a small wildfire at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park on Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior Tuesday had to be grounded and then sent back to base when an unauthorized drone was flying near the blaze.

Officials from the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center said the drone was spotted and the air crew was informed before any problems occurred. But they are asking the public to comply with federal and state regulations that ban drones near wildfires.

Firefighters with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and a DNR helicopter responded to the one-acre wildfire at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. While the helicopter landed to refuel, DNR firefighters spotted the drone where they were working. The DNR helicopter remained grounded until firefighters confirmed the drone had landed, and then the helicopter returned to base.

When a drone is spotted near a wildfire, all responding aircraft are required to land or return to the airport until the airspace is clear, delaying firefighting efforts.

SpokaneFlyer: "Reviving this thread. I heard from a family member in the forest service that their summer firefighter interns have arrived in the Gunflint ranger district because of fire concerns."

this is not true

grizzlyadams: "I am on the fire department for a town in SE Minnesota and we have already had several grass fire calls this year which is crazy for the time of year. It is so dry and has been windy nearly every day. Rain is forecasted for Thursday but not much after that.
On a side note there was quite a large wildfire over by Waseca about a week and a half ago. Just crazy. Hopefully we get some good rainfall spread out over the spring time to help things out."

Yep, I'm a fire wife and people wouldn't imagine the number of calls my husband has been on the past two weeks! Stop having fires people!

Fire season after next Friday might be on hold for quite a while if the storm prediction is right. Isabella area Friday through Sunday may get 15 inches of snow, Mille lacs area 11 inches. I will believe it when I see it. But that is a major fire suppressor.