Latest news with #MNICS
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
MN wildfires: Authorities say weather helping slow the blazes, 1 fire still uncontained
The Brief The Camp House wildfire is slowly becoming more contained as fire crews take advantage of favorable weather conditions. The Jenkins Creek wildfire remains uncontained as of Sunday afternoon. The Munger Shaw wildfire is about 75% contained as of Sunday afternoon. BRIMSON, Minn. (FOX 9) - Fire crews are making progress in battling the wildfires in northern Minnesota, with both the Camp House fire and Munger Shaw fire more contained than they were yesterday. Meanwhile, the Jenkins Creek fire remains uncontained as firefighters prepare for possible drier and gustier conditions returning later this week. READ MORE: Minnesota wildfires maps: Evacuation areas, latest information By the numbers Authorities released the following information on the size of each fire on Sunday morning. Camp House fire: 12,277 acres (Down from nearly 15,000 acres after improved mapping, fire 31% contained) Jenkins Creek fire: 16,332 acres (Up from 16,281 acres reported Saturday and down from previously 20,000 acres after improved mapping, fire 0% contained) Munger Shaw fire: 1,600 acres (Estimated burned acreage remains the same, fire 75% contained) The St. Louis County sheriff said more than 150 structures have been lost so far and about 30 of those were year-round homes. Information on Lake County evacuations and road closures can be found here, while information on St. Louis County road closures and evacuations can be found here. READ MORE: MN state leaders surveying damage after days of historic wildfires What they're saying St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said in a social media post on Sunday that the cool and wet weather is helping to slow the fire activity and is giving crews "a chance to make progress on containment and address hot spots." The sheriff adds there is "no new fire-related information to report at this time" and that evacuation areas are unchanged. What caused the fires? The official cause of each fire is still being investigated, but the St. Louis County Sheriff shared the following from investigators: The Camp House fire is believed to have been caused by an unattended camp fire and the DNR has identified the person who started the fire. The Jenkins Creek fire may have started with a discarded cigarette along Highway 16, as it began near a roadway. The Munger Shaw fire appears to have started with a bail of hay that caught fire and quickly spread, despite the homeowner calling 911 immediately. What's next Authorities are set to hold a meeting on the Jenkins Creek and Camp House fires on Monday, May 19, at 6 p.m. inside the Mesabi East School District High School Auditorium at 601 North 1st Street West in Aurora, Minnesota. A link to a livestream of the meeting will be shared on the Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) and Superior National Forest Facebook pages. Dig deeper Authorities say the Camp House fire is 31% contained as of Sunday afternoon and the fire has not grown in the past four days. Firefighters are still working to strengthen containment lines on the east and north sides of the fire after establishing containment lines on the south and west sides on Saturday. Fire activity was reportedly low on Saturday because of the cool and wet weather. Dig deeper While the Jenkins Creek wildfire remains uncontained, firefighters are reportedly prioritizing the protection of the Skibo and Hoyt Lakes communities. Authorities say bulldozer crews extended the containment lines along the northern edge and southern end of the fire. Firefighters hope to prepare for potentially drier and gustier conditions later in the week. Dig deeper Authorities say the Munger Shaw fire is about 75% contained as of Sunday afternoon, up from 50% contained on Saturday. Evacuation orders for the fire were rescinded Thursday night. Crews have deployed un-crewed aircraft systems to assist firefighters. Authorities emphasized that public drone use near a wildfire is illegal, as it poses a serious risk to pilot safety. People are encouraged to donate to the Wildland Fire Federation or the American Red Cross, the Minnesota Incident Command System said. The St. Louis County sheriff said donations can also be made to United Way Duluth. The Source This story uses updated information from the Eastern Area Incident Management Team, and past FOX 9 reporting.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Minnesota's raging Camp House Fire explodes to nearly 12,000 acres
Three major wildfires raging out of control in the same Minnesota county have burned more than 20,000 acres combined, destroying dozens of structures, triggering evacuations and prompting the governor to call in the state National Guard to help battle the flames. The largest fire in St. Louis County -- the Camp House Fire -- exploded overnight to nearly 12,000 acres and was 0% contained on Tuesday afternoon, officials said. "The responders are doing everything they can, working long hours under extremely tough conditions," Cmdr. Ryan Williams of the Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) said at a news conference. The Camp House Fire, which started on Sunday in the Superior National Forest near Brimson, about 35 miles north of county seat Duluth, grew overnight from roughly 1,200 acres to 11,788 acres by Tuesday afternoon, according to Williams. He said that up to 150 structures, including seasonal cabins, remain under mandatory evacuation orders. MORE: 9 million people under red flag warnings as fire danger envelops upper Midwest St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said in a video statement that more than 40 structures, including homes and cabins, have been destroyed by the Camp House Fire. Fueled by wind gusts, relative low humidity, warm temperatures, dry underbrush and a build-up of dead trees killed by an insect infestation, the Camp House Fire has quickly spread through the area, according to officials. "When the fire torches through tree canopies, it throws embers into the air like confetti," Williams said. Two other wild fires burning in St. Louis County were the Jenkins Creek Fire -- which started on Monday afternoon and had spread to 6,800 acres as of Tuesday afternoon -- and the Munger Saw Fire, which also stated Monday afternoon and had grown to 1,400 acres as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the MNICS. Both fires were also 0% contained, officials said. No injuries have been reported from any of the fires, officials noted. MORE: 2nd teen charged with arson for New Jersey wildfire: Prosecutor As of Tuesday morning, wildfires had scorched over 37,000 acres -- far above the state's typical yearly total of about 12,000 acres. "We are seeing the effects of climate change," Sarah Strommen, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, said at Tuesday's news conference. "It's harder to compare current fire seasons to what used to be normal. We are trending toward hotter, drier weather -- and that's changing everything." On Monday night, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called in state National Guard troops to help firefighters gain control of the three fires. MORE: This is how climate change contributed to the California wildfires "Last night, many of our firefighters were out there with no sleep in extremely dangerous conditions," Walz said in a statement. "We've already seen 970 wildfires this year -- 40 on Sunday and another 40 on Monday. These are record-setting numbers, and the fires are burning fast." The blazes ignited amid red flag fire danger warnings issued by the National Weather Service for nearly the entire state of Minnesota. Making matters worse for firefighters were high temperatures forecast for most of Minnesota this week. On Monday and Tuesday, temperatures in the Duluth area reached the 80s. Minnesota's raging Camp House Fire explodes to nearly 12,000 acres originally appeared on
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Minnesota's raging Camp House Fire explodes to nearly 12,000 acres
Three major wildfires raging out of control in the same Minnesota county have burned more than 20,000 acres combined, destroying dozens of structures, triggering evacuations and prompting the governor to call in the state National Guard to help battle the flames. The largest fire in St. Louis County -- the Camp House Fire -- exploded overnight to nearly 12,000 acres and was 0% contained on Tuesday afternoon, officials said. "The responders are doing everything they can, working long hours under extremely tough conditions," Cmdr. Ryan Williams of the Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) said at a news conference. The Camp House Fire, which started on Sunday in the Superior National Forest near Brimson, about 35 miles north of county seat Duluth, grew overnight from roughly 1,200 acres to 11,788 acres by Tuesday afternoon, according to Williams. He said that up to 150 structures, including seasonal cabins, remain under mandatory evacuation orders. MORE: 9 million people under red flag warnings as fire danger envelops upper Midwest St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said in a video statement that more than 40 structures, including homes and cabins, have been destroyed by the Camp House Fire. Fueled by wind gusts, relative low humidity, warm temperatures, dry underbrush and a build-up of dead trees killed by an insect infestation, the Camp House Fire has quickly spread through the area, according to officials. "When the fire torches through tree canopies, it throws embers into the air like confetti," Williams said. Two other wild fires burning in St. Louis County were the Jenkins Creek Fire -- which started on Monday afternoon and had spread to 6,800 acres as of Tuesday afternoon -- and the Munger Saw Fire, which also stated Monday afternoon and had grown to 1,400 acres as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the MNICS. Both fires were also 0% contained, officials said. No injuries have been reported from any of the fires, officials noted. MORE: 2nd teen charged with arson for New Jersey wildfire: Prosecutor As of Tuesday morning, wildfires had scorched over 37,000 acres -- far above the state's typical yearly total of about 12,000 acres. "We are seeing the effects of climate change," Sarah Strommen, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, said at Tuesday's news conference. "It's harder to compare current fire seasons to what used to be normal. We are trending toward hotter, drier weather -- and that's changing everything." On Monday night, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called in state National Guard troops to help firefighters gain control of the three fires. MORE: This is how climate change contributed to the California wildfires "Last night, many of our firefighters were out there with no sleep in extremely dangerous conditions," Walz said in a statement. "We've already seen 970 wildfires this year -- 40 on Sunday and another 40 on Monday. These are record-setting numbers, and the fires are burning fast." The blazes ignited amid red flag fire danger warnings issued by the National Weather Service for nearly the entire state of Minnesota. Making matters worse for firefighters were high temperatures forecast for most of Minnesota this week. On Monday and Tuesday, temperatures in the Duluth area reached the 80s. Minnesota's raging Camp House Fire explodes to nearly 12,000 acres originally appeared on
13-05-2025
- Climate
Minnesota's raging Camp House Fire explodes to nearly 12,000 acres
Three major wildfires raging out of control in the same Minnesota county have burned more than 20,000 acres combined, destroying dozens of structures, triggering evacuations and prompting the governor to call in the state National Guard to help battle the flames. The largest fire in St. Louis County -- the Camp House Fire -- exploded overnight to nearly 12,000 acres and was 0% contained on Tuesday afternoon, officials said. "The responders are doing everything they can, working long hours under extremely tough conditions," Cmdr. Ryan Williams of the Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) said at a news conference. The Camp House Fire, which started on Sunday in the Superior National Forest near Brimson, about 35 miles north of county seat Duluth, grew overnight from roughly 1,200 acres to 11,788 acres by Tuesday afternoon, according to Williams. He said that up to 150 structures, including seasonal cabins, remain under mandatory evacuation orders. St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said in a video statement that more than 40 structures, including homes and cabins, have been destroyed by the Camp House Fire. Fueled by wind gusts, relative low humidity, warm temperatures, dry underbrush and a build-up of dead trees killed by an insect infestation, the Camp House Fire has quickly spread through the area, according to officials. "When the fire torches through tree canopies, it throws embers into the air like confetti," Williams said. Two other wild fires burning in St. Louis County were the Jenkins Creek Fire -- which started on Monday afternoon and had spread to 6,800 acres as of Tuesday afternoon -- and the Munger Saw Fire, which also stated Monday afternoon and had grown to 1,400 acres as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the MNICS. Both fires were also 0% contained, officials said. No injuries have been reported from any of the fires, officials noted. As of Tuesday morning, wildfires had scorched over 37,000 acres -- far above the state's typical yearly total of about 12,000 acres. "We are seeing the effects of climate change," Sarah Strommen, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, said at Tuesday's news conference. "It's harder to compare current fire seasons to what used to be normal. We are trending toward hotter, drier weather -- and that's changing everything." On Monday night, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called in state National Guard troops to help firefighters gain control of the three fires. "Last night, many of our firefighters were out there with no sleep in extremely dangerous conditions," Walz said in a statement. "We've already seen 970 wildfires this year -- 40 on Sunday and another 40 on Monday. These are record-setting numbers, and the fires are burning fast." The blazes ignited amid red flag fire danger warnings issued by the National Weather Service for nearly the entire state of Minnesota.
