1,600+ wildfires in Minnesota in 2021 so far, exceeds average yearly total (U.S. Forest Service / Supplied) ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Despite recent rain, drought conditions persist in northern Minnesota, where crews are battling wildfires. Tuesday afternoon, a fire near Bemidji led to voluntary evacuations before crews ultimately got the fire under control. According to Beltrami County Sheriff Ernie Beitel, the cause of the fire is considered suspicious. 1,600+ wildfires in Minnesota in 2021 so far, above yearly average According to numbers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the average number of wildfires they see in a year is around 1,400. This year, they’ve already seen more than 1,600.