Environmental Threat: Minnesota Wildfires
Shannon Mikrut
MPH 584 Community Health
Dr. Kimberly Brodie
April 17th, 2014
1
Wildfires are a natural disaster that when uncontrolled can burn millions of acres
of land in a matter of minutes (National Geographic, 2014). Wildfires know no boarders,
jurisdictions, and make no judgments. Houses, lives, wildlife, ecosystems, and entire
communities can be destroyed by these raging fires. Most wildfires are fueled by
weather, wind, and dry brush; but wildfires can also be a result of human error (National
Geographic, 2014).
Minnesota is a beautiful state with lush forests, prairies, wetlands, and savannas
(Minnesota Native Landscapes, 2011). With seasonal changes, varying rainfall, and
continental climates, Minnesota can have an increased susceptibility to wildfires. Already
in 2014, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has placed fifteen
Minnesota counties under burn restriction regulations (Minnesota Incident Command
System [MNCIS], 2014). Eleven additional counties will be placed under burn restriction
starting April 21st, 2014. The DNR (2014) is also sponsoring a Wildfire Prevention Week
in late April to increase awareness and promote wildfire prevention efforts. Various other
local, state, and federal organizations work together to prevent, control, and restore
wildfires and their impactful damages.
Wildfires can be dangerous and harmful to humans, communities, plants, and
animals. Humans are at risk of smoke inhalation, respiratory issues, varying severity of
burns, and even death (Minnesota Department of Health, 2014). Communities can be
dismantled through loss of homes, businesses, productivity, and financial and emotional
distress caused in the aftermath of a wildfire.
Prevention is the greatest tool that Minnesotans have against wildfires. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), the DNR, Minnesota Department of
2
Health, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and US Forestry Service are a
few of the organizations that provide prevention programs in the state. Programs can
consist of providing preventative tools, safety techniques, and recommended steps for
citizens to take prior to and/or during a wildfire emergency. Prevention programs can also
focus on environmental efforts, such as prescribed burns, creating and enforcing fire
regulations, implementing burn bans, and increasing awareness across at risk
communities. The public can engage in prevention efforts through staying informed about
wildfire threats; listening/watching local weather forecasts; checking the DNR website
for fire threats and burn regulations; adhering to burn regulations; establishing a
preparedness wildfire action plan in place; following precautionary measures to prevent
fires, such as putting fires out when camping, making sure cigarette butts are fully put
out; and obeying instructions given by emergency or fire safety personnel.
Prevention efforts also take place on an organizational level. The DNR often
initiates prescribed burns; monitors weather conditions; enforces burn bans; and notifies
communities and appropriate agencies when conditions are susceptible for wildfires
(DNR, 2014). The US Forestry Service, FEMA, Minnesota Department of Health,
Conservation Corps members, firefighters, and others organizations work together to
create awareness, keep the public informed, maintain surveillance, perform wildfire
control/management efforts, and implement prescribed burns to prevent wildfires.
The Minnesota Incident Command System is an interagency group that partners
with state and federal partners to establish standard procedures and practices; facilitate
support actions; and manage all wildfire risk incidents in the state of Minnesota (MNCIS,
2014). The National Fire Incident Reporting System, operated by FEMA, collects data on
3
statistics, demographics, characteristics, and any other pertinent information about fires
that occur across all 50 states (US Fire Administration, 2014). The reported information
is then compiled into a database, which is the largest national database of fire incident
information, for local and state governments to access (US Fire Administration, 2014).
The system was designed to serve as a consistent method for reporting and analyzing
fires.
When a wildfire occurs, many organizations, whether local, state, and/or federal,
get involved to contain the disaster. The DNR, firefighters, local police workers, FEMA,
the American Red Cross, US Forestry Service, Conservation Corps members, US Fire
Administration, US Fish and Wildlife Services, National Park Service, Minnesota
Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
Management, Emergency Medical Service, and many other agencies collaboratively
work together to control the fire, inform the public about risks and recommended actions,
perform evacuations, provide medical care, and protect communities (MNICS, 2014).
Addressing natural disasters is a collaborative effort both in Minnesota and nationally.
All groups, organizations, agencies, communities, and individuals need to work together
prevent, minimize, control, and restore damages caused by natural disasters. We are all
part of something greater, and we all need each other.
4
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Wildfires. Retrieved from:
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/
McKenzie, J.F., Pinger, R.R., & Kotecki, J.E. (2012). An introduction to community
health (7th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Minnesota Department of Health. (2014). Wildfires: Protecting your health. Retrieved
from: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/emergency/natural/wildfire/
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). (2014). Wildfire information.
Retrieved from: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/index.html
Minnesota Incident Command System (MNCIS). (2014). Welcome to MNCIS. Retrieved
from: http://mnics.org/wpress/
Minnesota Native Landscapes. (2011). Minnesota native landscapes. Retrieved from:
http://www.mnnativelandscapes.com/
National Geographic. (2014). Wildfires. Retrieved from:
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural
disasters/wildfires/
US Fire Administration. (2014). National Fire Incident Reporting System. Retrieved
from: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/nfirs/
US Forest Service. (n.d.). Fire & aviation management. Retrieved from:
http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/
5