The Grand Forks County Sheriff's Department issued a burning ban Sunday afternoon for the entire county, effective until further notice.
The warmer-than-normal spring, with average or below precipitation has combined with breezy conditions to make the pre-green-up period after snow-melt rife with fire possibilities. Several such grass fires have been fought across the region in the past 10 days.
In northeastern Minnesota ion Sunday, two National Guard Blackhawk helicopters were activated to help fight a wildfire near Eveleth.
The 70-acre fire at Pike Bay is a concern for officials because it's in heavy timber and has the potential to grow quickly.
The Pike Bay fire was one of two larger fires officials are battling Sunday. The other is at Cut Bank, south of Pennington.
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Marty Christensen, a fire information officer for the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center, said Sunday wasn't quite as windy as the day before, but the conditions are still extreme.
Christensen said that Saturday, 32 fires burned about 300 acres in Minnesota.
Burning restrictions are in effect throughout northern Minnesota.
