Why is this news? I guess if its potentially explosive, its potentially unexpolosive as well. I can hardly wait for KARE 11's in depth report on how we continue to get the wrong type of moisture. Can't we just be happy to have gotten the recent snowfalls?

Dear DNR: Most could be allowed to burn, as they where in the past. Natural cycle of life plus save the State money. Making mention of this now is a PR move to soften big spending on cool new equipment?

a shame they can't change the weather isn't it, all this hand ringing could be eliminated

The news is never good from the people who have a story to sell or a budget to increase. Yesterday I read that since the ground is frozen all the recent snow will not seep into the earth and it will solve no drought issues. Sure. Is frozen ground in Minnesota a new phenomena?

If we have a slow thaw vs hitting the 70s in the 2nd week of March, then moisture seeping into the ground should not be a big deal. Add some traditional spring rain and the problem should resolve itself. Although all the deadfall is just fuel for fire in any circumstance.

Don't worry, we will be getting inundated with the annual Red River flooding hysteria in a couple months.

I am curious if after 'the potentially explosive' spring DOES NOT happen, will the Strib circle back and interview this same alarmist and write a follow-up article? "After a mild spring with nothing explosive to report, we asked Olin Phillips, director of bla bla, if he has second thoughts about his dire prediction: ya know, it was terribly wrong, but being a devoted follower of global warming theory, I just assume the worst will always happen, so I guess you could say I was wrong, but my heart was in the right place."

Ya gotta wonder about the timing of this information. They suddenly crunched a bunch of data that told them if it's a dry spring there could be fires? Right after a big state-wide snowfall? I'm going to puke if one more person says "well, we need the moisture". Obviously- the winter-time moisture means nothing!