Eveleth's annual July Fourth fireworks display was cut short Saturday when a wildfire broke out near the festivities, according to a social media post from Friends of the Northland FireWire.
"The fire, on Saturday night, was in a hilly area, south of the city’s main street area," the post said. "Eveleth firefighters, who were monitoring the fireworks, were able to quickly respond to the fire, but called for assistance from the Gilbert and Fayal Township departments. No injuries were reported and no structures were threatened."
Many areas in Minnesota are abnormally dry or in moderate drought . Across the Northland, the dry spell has led to an extremely unusual late wildfire season. The region usually sees most of its wildfires in April and early May, before foliage turns green, and then again in late summer. But this year, fires continued to burn in June, usually the wettest month of the year.
Officials in Tower canceled the city's annual fireworks display .
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources last week warned holiday revelers to use caution with firework s due to "abnormally dry" conditions throughout the state. Burning limitations, including limitations on the use of fireworks, were in effect for southern Beltrami County, and all of Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties.
