The DNR says caution is vital as lakes begin to freeze. Officials say ice thickness this time of year is highly variable. Parents are urged to talk with their kids about staying safe around the ice. “There’s nothing worse than when a time of year that should be festive turns tragic,” said Lt. Adam Block,…
This week is Winter Hazard Awareness Week, where public safety officials, including Beltrami County Emergency Management, remind citizens about the dangers ahead of Minnesota’s longest season. Yesterday’s daily topic was on winter storms and weather. Minnesotans are reminded about winter weather terminology: Winter Storm Outlooks: storm conditions are possible in the next 2-5 days. Winter…
Winter is coming, and the Department of Public Safety has tips on how to stay safe and warm this season. In 2020, 421 fires were caused by heating equipment, with almost half from units such as boilers and furnaces, and nearly another half from fireplaces and chimneys. Space heaters should never be left unattended and…
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith sent a joint letter to the Biden Administration, supporting the Red Lake Nation’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration Severe storms this summer produced two tornadoes that swept through Beltrami County, largely hitting the Red Lake Reservation. These storms damaged numerous households and tribal buildings, including the Pow…
With colder months ahead, the USDA’s Rural Development Program reminds the community that grants and loans are available for single-family homeowners for repairs. Known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, this provides very low-income homeowners to repair, improve, or modernize their homes. The loans can be payable over 20 years at a fixed one…
A fire in the Itasca State Park is approximately nine acres in size and is five percent contained at last report. According to the DNR, the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office heard a report of a fire burning in timber, lowland grasses and brush in a remote Itasca State Park location. The fire, called the Bohall…
The U.S. Drought Monitor is reporting improving conditions across northern Minnesota. Last week, portions of Beltrami and Clearwater counties were still in exceptional drought, but this week, most of Beltrami and Clearwater counties were upgraded to extreme drought. Beltrami County Emergency Management says some areas reported between 2 and 5 inches of rain over the…
After a summer of varying severities of drought, burning restrictions are lifted for 14 counties today. According to the Minnesota DNR, this includes Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater and Hubbard counties. Wildfire risk remains in the northeastern tip of Minnesota, with Class III burning restrictions still in effect for Cook and Lake counties. According to DNR acting…
Fire restrictions were eased in this area after recent rainfall. According to a release from the DNR, as of Friday, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater and Hubbard counties are part of the Class III restrictions area. Attended campfires in established fire rings are once again permitted, as long as they are associated with a home, cabin, campground…
An air quality alert is in effect through 8:00 this evening for a good swath of Minnesota, largely resulting from fires in the state’s Arrowhead region, as well as some of the Quetico fire in Ontario. Smokey haze descended on the area yesterday afternoon. The air quality alert extends nearly as far west as Bemidji. Firefighters…
