Monday, September 10 2012 9:48 PM EDT2012-09-11 01:48:54 GMT
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says the risk of wildfires is dangerously high across much of the state, and the National Weather Service has issued rare "red flag" warnings.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says the risk of wildfires is dangerously high across much of the state, and the National Weather Service has issued rare "red flag" warnings.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. (KMSP) -
The windy conditions helped fan a grass fire overnight in St. Louis Park.
The fire was reported around 3 a.m. Tuesday morning near some railroad tracks outside of St. Louis Park High School. Firefighters believe it started when someone lit a mattress on fire.
The fire burned between 100 and 200 yards of grass between the railroad tracks and a fence. The track was not damaged and no buildings were burned.
The National Weather Service issued "red flag" warnings for both Monday and Tuesday, which the Minnesota DNR says are extremely rare, with only four or five issued each year. Right now, the majority of Minnesota is in extreme fire danger.
"Most of the fires are started by people," said Olin Phillips, wildfire manager for the DNR. "If people are more cautious with fire, we can avoid these bad conditions and avoid the impacts we might otherwise see."
Burned grass near railroad tracks outside of St. Louis Park High School. Photo by Greg Kellogg / FOX 9 News
Firefighters say a mattress was set on fire, causing the grass fire. Photo by Greg Kellogg / FOX 9 News.
