Jenkins Creek Fire was human-caused, initial investigation shows
May 21—BRIMSON, Minn. — The largest of the wildfires burning in St. Louis County was likely caused by people.
In an update Wednesday, May 21, the Eastern Area Incident Management Team said the initial investigation into the nearly 17,000-acre Jenkins Creek Fire, which started May 12, shows "the fire is related to a human cause." The update noted the investigation is ongoing.
The causes of the 12,000-acre Camp House Fire and 1,259-acre Munger Shaw Fire remain "undetermined," according to the Wildfire Incident Information System.
Meanwhile, several evacuation orders are being lifted.
In St. Louis County, 13
evacuation zones
in "go" status were improved to "set" status Tuesday, the sheriff's office reported on Facebook.
St. Louis County Highway 33 and County Road 110/Forest Highway 11 also reopened to traffic at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
"Property owners are urged to take extra caution in the area," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post Tuesday night. "Be aware that the burned areas may still show smoke from various stumps and debris — this is not of concern when inside the already burned area. However, if smoke or flames are found outside the already burned area or anywhere it is clearly a hazard, please call 911."
In Lake County, the only active evacuation zone remaining is the Murphy Lake Road area, Matt Pollmann, the county's emergency management director, said in a Facebook video Tuesday night.
"Containment is over 40%, so they are feeling confident with the Camp House Fire," he said.
Significant progress was made in containing the perimeter of the Camp House Fire to 73%, the Eastern Area Complex Incident Management Team reported Wednesday morning.
* Started: May 12
* Acres: 16,748
* Location: 15 miles southeast of Hoyt Lakes
* Cause: Human-caused
* Resources: 223
* Containment: 13%
* Eastern Area Complex Incident Management Team notes: "Fire: Crews held line around the fire despite the strong, gusting winds. Unmanned Aerial Systems flew five flights during breaks in the wind, detecting areas with heat that were then attacked by ground crews. Today, additional firefighters will be moved from the Camp House Fire to the Jenkins Fire to make a push to connect existing containment lines. The heavy equipment that was working along the southern edge of the fire to masticate (chop up) large fallen debris into wood chips will progress north today. The debris that is chipped up will not burn as hot should fire reach the wood chippings. Over time, the woody chip debris will decompose quicker."
* Started: May 11
* Acres: 12,071
* Location: 2 miles northeast of Brimson
* Cause: Under investigation
* Resources: 365 personnel
* Containment: 73%
* Eastern Area Complex Incident Management Team notes: "Firefighters' steady effort in battling the Camp House Fire over the past week paid off as all existing lines held despite strong winds from the east. Overnight precipitation continued to aid in cooling the fire. Two hotshot crews will continue to work in some of the more challenging terrain to finish connecting portions of the containment line. Other crews will begin moving deeper into the interior from the southern end of the fire to find and put out any smoldering areas inside the containment line. The fire initially started on private land and moved into national forest system lands, and a Forest closure is still in effect."
* Started: May 12
* Acres: 1,259
* Location: Southeast of Cotton
* Cause: Under investigation
* Resources: 9 personnel
* Containment: 95%
* Cloquet Area DNR Forestry notes: Firefighters are patrolling the area and mopping up isolated hotspots. No fire growth is expected, although high winds are a concern.
The Wednesday forecast for the Brimson and Two Harbors area calls for mostly cloudy skies and a high near 56 degrees, with an east wind around 15 mph, gusting as high as 30 mph, the National Weather Service in Duluth reported.
A gale warning was in effect Wednesday until 1 p.m. for the North Shore from Two Harbors to Duluth.
A frost advisory was in effect from 1 to 9 a.m. Thursday for St. Louis and Lake counties, the NWS said. Temperatures could drop as low as 31 degrees.
The forecast for Thursday is sunny, with a high near 65 degrees and a northeast wind around 5 mph.
St. Louis and Lake counties will contact residents in their respective counties if they need to evacuate.
*
St. Louis County's "ready, set, go!" evacuation zone map
denotes evacuation status in yellow, orange and red, along with recommended plans to protect residents and their property.
*
Lake County's "ready, set, go!" evacuation zone map
denotes evacuation status in yellow, orange and red, along with recommended plans to protect residents and their property.
Evacuation centers are no longer in operation.
U.S. Forest Service hotline: 218-206-6805
United Way of Northeastern Minnesota
For residents impacted in St. Louis County. It is working to establish a wildfire recovery fund. Immediate assistance is offered through its Comforts of Home program, which replaces lost items with referrals from agencies like the Red Cross and St. Louis County. All proceeds go to impacted community members.
* Donate online:
unitedwaynemn.org/firehelp
* Donate via mail: United Way of Northeastern Minnesota, 608 East Drive, Chisholm, MN 55719.
Head of the Lakes United Way
For residents impacted in Lake County. All proceeds go to impacted community members.
* Donate online:
hlunitedway.harnessgiving.org/campaigns/18236
* Donate via mail: Head of the Lakes United Way, 314 W. Superior St. #750, Duluth, MN 55802; include a note indicating "wildfire relief."
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