Nearly the entire KDHL/Power 96 listening area is under a burning ban due to the high temperatures and windy conditions throughout the region.

Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn told KDHL/Power 96 he visited with DNR officials and fire chiefs throughout the county and all agreed the ban needed to be implemented.

Rice County has a total burning ban. That means recreational fires also.

The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for Rice County and the surrounding area and it's in effect until 7PM today.

Dunn said the total burning ban in Rice County will be in place until further notice.

The winds gusting 25-30 mph are the biggest concern, and with very low humidity conditions are ripe for a spark to turn into a blaze.

Ironically, Wildfire Prevention Week begins Sunday.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says 9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by humans. The DNR website has a map indicating fire danger and nearly the entire southern third of the state is in the red or extreme designation.

In addition to Rice County, Le Sueur, Steele and Waseca counties are in the extreme designation.

Goodhue County and the first couple of counties west of the Wisconsin border are in the very high category.

Smoke
Mike Eiler/Townsquare Media  This was a controlled burn Thursday near Faribault Middle School
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