Latest news with #MinnesotaIncidentCommandSystem
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Minnesota wildfires: Hoyt Lakes placed on 'SET' evacuation status
As the Jenkins Creek Fire continues to burn in northern Minnesota, the City of Hoyt Lakes has been placed on "SET" evacuation status. The evacuation alerts continue to shift as the fire – which has burned more than 15,000 acres so far – moves north and west. Despite slower spread on Wednesday and cooler temperatures, as well as rain, on Thursday, the fire is still 0% contained as of Thursday evening. Residents of Hoyt Lakes, population just under 2,000, had been advised to prepare in the event the fire began to spread closer to city limits. On Thursday afternoon, the Hoyt Lakes area was included in the "SET" area, which is denoted as an "Evacuation Warning" zone, the second highest alert level. What this means is that residents must "be set to evacuate" at any time. As things stand they are not being told to evacuate, but should be ready to move if the situation changes. Firefighters and responders were given respite on Wednesday as higher humidity helped to slow the spread of flames. But severe storms arriving in the area were expected to present challenges, with the Minnesota Incident Command System noting that "gusty erratic winds" were expected, and these conditions make it more difficult to "contain the fire within its current footprint." The Jenkins Creek Fire is the largest of the three currently burning in northeastern Minnesota. The Camp House Fire just to the southeast is a shade under 15,000 acres as of Thursday morning. The latest update from authorities in charge of the fire response can be found below.
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Northern Minnesota wildfires burn more than 37K acres; investigations ongoing
Nearly 37,000 acres have burned since Sunday as three wildfires continue to rage in northern Minnesota, none of which have been contained. The Jenkins Creek Fire northwest of Duluth grew from 6,800 acres on Tuesday to roughly 20,600 acres Wednesday morning, according to the Minnesota Incident Command System. The fire is centered near Hoyt Lakes, and is burning in mixed boreal forest and grassy ground cover. The Camp House Fire — the first fire to be reported on Sunday afternoon — grew to nearly 15,000 acres. The fire has since destroyed dozens of structures. Forest service officials say firefighters are engaged in full sppression tactics and are providing protection to threatened structures. "Lake turbulance" winds have been challenging operations, officials say, but the fire hasn't seen as much growth as the Jenkins Creek Fire. The Three Lakes/Munger Shaw Fire, the smallest of the trio, had spread to 1,700 acres, according to officials. According to KBJR, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is investigating suspects accused of starting the Camp House Fire. A group of campers had left a fire unattended, and when they returned the fire had spread beyond their control, the DNR learned. Officials say investigations for all three fires are ongoing. Weather conditions in the Arrowhead region have improved slightly, as a wave of humidity moves in and storms are expected to develop on Thursday. NEXT Weather Meteorologists say the area could see about an inch of rain, which would ease the dry conditions firefighters are facing. Gov. Tim Walz on Monday activated the Minnesota National Guard and its helicopters to aid the fire fight. Officials are reminding people, including drone pilots, to keep away from all the areas impacted by the wildfires so firefighters can effectively do their jobs. Walz pleaded for those asked to evacuate to do so. "I know these are difficult decisions to make," he said at a news conference on Tuesday. "I would make the case again the plea for your own safety." The governor says his office has already made contact with FEMA should federal assistance be needed. Due to the fires, a portion of the Laurentian Ranger District is closed in the Superior National Forest, prohibiting visitor entry at campsites, trails and recreation sites. WCCO How you can help If you want to help the crews fighting the wildfires and the people being evacuated, you can send donations to the Wildland Fire Foundation.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Minnesota wildfires explode over nearly 20,000 acres as National Guard responds
Three raging wildfires in northern Minnesota have forced evacuations and the deployment of members of the state's National Guard to battle the blazes. The fires continued to expand on Tuesday, fanned by hot, dry, and windy weather conditions. In Brimson, the largest of the three wildfires, known as the Camp House fire, rapidly ballooned to 11,778 acres. The fire, which started on Sunday, has destroyed more than 40 structures and led dozens of people to evacuate. There were 80 people working to respond to the incident, and several road closures implemented. The 'fire has been very active the last two days, with the burning period going into the night,' the Minnesota Incident Command System wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. In the nearby Superior National Forest, the Jenkins Creek Fire had spread over 6,800 acres, quadrupling in size after erupting Monday morning. 'The fire moved quickly, driven by strong southerly winds,' according to officials. Southwest of the two wildfires, the Munger Shaw fire tore over more than 1,400 acres, according to the wildfire-tracking app Watch Duty. More evacuations were reported in that area, according to the national forest. The causes of all of the fires remain under investigation. Not one of the fires is contained. On Monday, Democratic Governor Tim Walz, former Vice President Kamala Harris' 2024 running mate, said he had authorized the National Guard to assist in the response. "Wildfires in northern Minnesota have forced families to evacuate and caused severe damage to and loss of property. My thoughts are with those Minnesotans who are being impacted by this dangerous and unpredictable fire," said Walz. As the fight continues, an air quality alert issued due to the spread of wildfire smoke has been extended through Wednesday. 'Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI level, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups,' the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency warned. Similar alerts were issued at around the same time last year due to wildfire smoke coming from Canada. Walz and the state's forestry officials told residents to be extra careful about anything that could cause heat or sparks. Burn restrictions were in place. Red flag warnings have been issued for 65 counties, and any wildfire that starts in this weather is expected to explode. Climate change is making wildfire-prone conditions more frequent. The governor said that while Minnesota typically sees more than 1,100 wildfires a year, 970 have already occurred this year. Of those, 40 were on Sunday and Monday, according to WCCO News. "I've worked for DNR (Department of Natural Resources) Forestry for nearly 30 years, and the weather the last few days is just really unprecedented," Patty Thielen, director of forestry for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, told the station. "Really low humidity, high winds have allowed fires to spread really quickly."
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
