FIRES

House deemed total loss, 1 injured after Tuesday fire

Pioneer Staff Report — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 18:10:42 GMT

BEMIDJI — A house along Delton Ave. NW has suffered significant damage after a fire broke out on Tuesday evening in Bemidji.

According to a release from Bemidji Fire Chief Justin Sherwood, at 8:40 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24, firefighters responded to reports of a structure fire with people trapped along Delton Ave. NW.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a two-story house with fire and smoke visible throughout. Witnesses on scene reported that one person was unaccounted for, the release said.

Initial crews pulled a 1 3/4-inch preconnected attack line and made entry through the front door to locate the person. Crews quickly found a male in a bedroom on the first floor, the release said.

He was removed from the building and the Bemidji Ambulance Service provided care. As additional crews arrived on the scene, more attack lines were deployed.

Crews performed primary and secondary searches and confirmed the building was clear of any occupants, the release said.

A total of 29 firefighters and 10 pieces of equipment were on the scene for approximately three hours.

The home and its contents are a total loss, the release noted. No firefighter injuries were reported and the fire is currently under investigation.

The Bemidji Ambulance Service, Bemidji Police Department, Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office, Ottertail Power Company and Minnesota Energy assisted the Bemidji Fire Department at the scene.

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1 arrested after fire destroys Eckles Township mobile home

Pioneer Staff Report — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 23:18:50 GMT

BEMIDJI — A woman has been arrested for allegedly committing arson after an investigation showed that a mobile home in Eckles Township was intentionally set on fire early Thursday morning.

According to a release from Beltrami County Sheriff Jason Riggs, at approximately 2:57 a.m. on Thursday, June 5, the sheriff's office was notified of a mobile home on fire along Theater Lane NW in Eckles Township.

Upon arrival, deputies found the home fully engulfed in flames. Two people were at the scene and indicated that they were inside the home, but safely self-evacuated after realizing it was on fire.

A total of 27 firefighters and 10 pieces of equipment were on the scene for approximately five hours in order to extinguish the fire. The home and its contents have been declared a total loss, according to a release from Bemidji Fire Chief Justin Sherwood.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire.

As the investigation continued, it was determined that the fire appeared to be a result of arson and had been intentionally ignited, Riggs noted in the release. Investigators identified the suspect as Natasha Redeagle. She was located at a residence in Bemidji and arrested without incident.

Redeagle was booked into the Beltrami County Jail and the case is being reviewed by the Beltrami County Attorney’s Office as she awaits her first court appearance.

The Bemidji Ambulance Service, Bemidji Police Department, Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Bemidji Fire Department, Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office, American Red Cross, Beltrami Electric and Minnesota Energy assisted at the scene.

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What you need to know about Canada's wildfires and the impact on us

Adria Peters — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 19:00:00 GMT

The sky was hazy Monday, June 2, for much of the Midwest due to the Canadian wildfires. With the air quality being deemed unhealthy for everyone, specifically sensitive groups, many people have been spending as little time outside as possible.

According to Minnesota’s Pollution Control Agency, multiple rounds of smoke are expected to blow south. Canada’s wildfire season typically lasts from March until October.

With the fires escalating, two people were killed after a small Manitoban town becoming engulfed in flames, according to multiple news reports. These fires are serious, and people are urged to pay close attention to weather alerts and news.

According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, about 1.7 million acres had burned across both Saskatchewan and Manitoba by Monday afternoon. Manitoba’s wildfires are out of control, and are largely burning on its northwest border with Saskatchewan. However, in Saskatchewan, the fires are mostly concentrated in the north.

“About 17,00 people were ordered to leave and more communities can expect the same in the coming days, said Wab Kinew, the premier of Manitoba,” according to The New York Times.

So, what exactly is causing these wildfires? Government data shows that 98 of 106 of Manitoba’s wildfires have been caused by people. Four were determined to have occurred naturally, likely as a result of lightning, and another four are still under investigation.

“In 2023, scientists at Canada’s natural resources department found that lightning sparked fires that burned 93% of the total wildfire area, and the remaining 7% of the area burned from human causes,” the Times reported.

Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has ordered an emergency response group to address the wildfires. The Canadian government also promised to match donations to the Canadian Red Cross, lend military aid, and provide other assistance.

Canada’s worst wildfire season on record was 2023, killing eight firefighters. In just that year, 7,100 wildfires burned 37 million acres, which is an area larger than the size of England, according to the Canadian government. Scientists even called those wildfires the top carbon emitter of 2023.

These wildfires mean hazy skies, campfire smells, and poor air quality for the Midwestern parts of the United States. Sensitive groups such as pregnant people, newborns, elderly adults, and those with respiratory or heart problems should limit their time outdoors as much as possible. This means only going outdoors when absolutely necessary. Even if you are a healthy individual, you should still largely limit your time outdoors to avoid the smoke.

While it is difficult to predict when these fires will ease up, the National Weather Service and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency predict that the conditions will persist through at least June 2, and likely last longer.

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Frohn Township home suffers major damage after fire

Pioneer Staff Report — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 17:29:37 GMT

BEMIDJI — A house in Frohn Township has suffered extensive damage after a fire broke out on Saturday morning in Bemidji.

According to a release from Bemidji Fire Chief Justin Sherwood, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, firefighters responded to reports of a structure fire along Martin Lane SE in Frohn Township.

Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a single-story house with heavy smoke and flames visible from the roof and rear of the home, the release said. A nearby vehicle and garage were also on fire.

Initial crews pulled a 2 1/2-inch pre-connected attack line and started a transitional attack at the back of the home. As more crews arrived on scene, additional lines were placed in service and aided in the extinguishment of the fires.

A total of 24 firefighters and eight pieces of equipment were on the scene for approximately three hours.

The home and its contents suffered extensive damage. No injuries have been reported. The fire is currently under investigation, but it appears to have been accidental, the release said.

The Bemidji Ambulance Service, Bemidji Police Department, Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office, American Red Cross, and Beltrami Electric assisted the Bemidji Fire Department at the scene.

The family has started a GoFundMe page to raise donations. To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/wilson-family-needs-your-help-after-fire.

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Justin Sherwood Column: Speaking up for those who can't

Justin Sherwood, Bemidji Fire Chief — Wed, 28 May 2025 11:50:00 GMT

The opioid crisis has had a deep impact across the United States, resulting in a wave of lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies accused of contributing to widespread addiction and overdose deaths.

In response, several major manufacturers and distributors reached historic settlements totaling more than $50 billion, with an initial $26 billion agreement finalized in 2021.

These settlements resulted in payments to states, counties and cities nationwide. Minnesota expects to receive over $300 million over 18 years, with Beltrami County allocated an estimated $2.8 million.

As part of this funding, Beltrami County received its second-round grant in January 2025, totaling approximately $70,000.

Settlement funds are strictly designated for opioid reduction efforts and must be used to address both the root causes and lasting consequences of opioid misuse. Approved uses include expanding access to treatment for substance use disorders, implementing evidence-based prevention programs, supporting recovery services, and advancing harm reduction strategies.

The funding can also support research, strengthen public health infrastructure and provide training for health care providers and emergency responders.

Beltrami County established the Opioid Steering Committee in 2023 to help distribute opioid settlement dollars effectively. This committee includes county staff, city officials, health care professionals, law enforcement representatives, and community members with lived experience, offering a comprehensive and community-centered approach to combating the opioid crisis.

As part of its efforts, the committee recently opened its second-round competitive grant process, making approximately $70,000 available for distribution from July 2025 to December 2026.

Recognizing the critical role first responders play in this crisis, the Bemidji Fire Department submitted a proposal to enhance its operational readiness by providing targeted opioid response training to its members through a course offered by Minnesota State University, Mankato.

This training focuses on strategies for identifying and managing opioid-related emergencies and co-occurring mental health conditions, supporting a more informed and compassionate response in the field. To maximize the funding's impact and promote long-term sustainability, the department is also exploring a train-the-trainer component.

By certifying a select group of firefighters as instructors, Bemidji Fire could deliver future opioid response training in-house and throughout the region, reducing recurring costs and expanding the program's reach to neighboring departments and regional partners.

This strategic approach not only strengthens internal capabilities but also supports broader regional coordination and readiness in responding to the opioid crisis.

The Opioid Steering Committee reviewed submissions and recommended awarding funds to five local entities, including the Bemidji Fire Department.

During a recent work session, the Public Health Director presented these recommendations to the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners.

However, the funding allocation, totaling $70,050, was pulled from the consent agenda and moved to new business for further discussion. The delay in approving the funding places the services it supports in a temporary holding pattern.

This delay is particularly concerning given the clear recommendations from a multidisciplinary team of professionals. For departments like the Bemidji Fire Department, whose firefighters are increasingly on the front lines of opioid-related emergencies, the funding would provide essential training that enhances public safety and community care.

The decision is now pending further review at a future board meeting, and any further delay could have serious implications for our ability to respond effectively to opioid-related emergencies.

This month, I chose to focus on this topic because it hits close to home, not just for me as Fire Chief but for every member of the Bemidji Fire Department. The opioid crisis is no longer something happening elsewhere. It's here, in our neighborhoods, workplaces and the lives of people we care about.

Too often, our firefighters are the ones who walk through the door first when someone's life hangs in the balance. We’re trained to save lives, but opioid-related emergencies bring complex challenges that go beyond traditional fire and EMS response.

These calls require a deeper understanding of addiction, mental health and trauma. Without that knowledge, we’re limited in how effectively we can help. That’s why this funding matters. It would give us the tools and training we need to respond and make a real difference.

This is especially important in a place like Bemidji, where so many of our residents live in rural areas or belong to tribal communities that often face barriers to health care. We see the gaps, feel the urgency, and want to be part of the solution. With this support, grant recipients can offer more than Narcan; we can provide compassion, understanding and hope.

While I favor county commissioners doing their due diligence and thoroughly reviewing documents, I urge our elected officials to act quickly in approving this grant funding.

The Opioid Steering Committee, composed of professionals with direct knowledge of the crisis and its impact on our community, has already conducted a careful and informed evaluation of each proposal.

Delays in distributing these funds stall critical services and training efforts for frontline responders, such as the Bemidji Fire Department, who are seeing a sharp increase in opioid-related emergencies.

Immediate approval will ensure that life-saving programs are not delayed and that resources reach the most people and organizations who need them. This funding is not intended to offset existing budgets or supplement programs that are already in place.

It is meant to expand capacity and reach, not replace what's already being done. These dollars should not be redirected to fill general fund gaps. They must be used to address the opioid crisis head-on by supporting the people and organizations working on the front lines every day.

As you may know, this topic is deeply personal to me. I, too, have struggled with mental health and addiction. While my journey didn’t involve opioids, I was an addict. Recovery gave me a second chance, and today, I try to use my platform as the city’s Fire Chief to speak up for those who can’t. Every life matters.

Every call we respond to is someone’s worst day. And if we can meet them with compassion, understanding and the right tools, we can be more than responders.

We can build a bridge to healing. This funding isn't just about training. It's about humanity. And it's one way we show our community that no one fights alone.

In closing, I want to be clear. My message is not meant to be disrespectful, out of line, or insubordinate. It comes from a place of deep conviction and lived experience.

I intend to advocate for the responders who respond to these emergencies every day, for the individuals silently battling addiction, and for a community that deserves nothing less than our unwavering commitment.

Thank you for standing with me through my journey with mental health and addiction and for continuously supporting the Bemidji Fire Department in advancing our mission to protect life, property, and the environment with honor, integrity and compassion.

Justin Sherwood is the fire chief at the Bemidji Fire Department. He can be reached at

(218) 751-8001

firechief@ci.bemidji.mn.us.

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As volunteer firefighter numbers fall, Minnesota battles more than 1,100 wildfires already in 2025

Makenzi Henderson — Tue, 27 May 2025 00:14:08 GMT

LANCASTER, Minn. — Minnesota’s wildfire season is off to a fast and fierce start in 2025.

The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reports as of mid-May the state had seen 1,143 wildfires — nearly as many as the state usually sees in a full year, and a significant increase compared to previous years. There were a total of 1,380 wildfires in all of 2024.

No matter where you are in the United States, most of the firefighters battling wildfires are doing it for little to no pay with only the promise of a pension at retirement.

Both Minnesota and North Dakota rank in the top five nationally for having the most volunteer or paid on-call fire departments, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

While firefighters in both states are responding to more calls overall, the number of firefighters continues to fall in Minnesota while it rises in North Dakota.

WDAY found a 'little station the could' in Lancaster, Minn., though.

It's fully staffed and it doesn't have the recruitment and retention issues that are plaguing many other departments across Minnesota and the U.S.

Assistant Chief Clark Weleski said they have 25 volunteer firefighters.

"That's a full house for us, a good crew," Weleski said.

He added that they even have some volunteers on a waiting list.

Weleski is a mechanic by day.

"Whenever we get called for this, if I'm available, I'll show up," he said.

Weleski said firefighting is more than a duty — it’s a calling.

"I started out at the bottom of the totem pole when I got out of high school and worked my way up here," Weleski said. "So, hopefully, I can just do good, volunteer for the community. I like helping people."

Chief Casey Faken said when they get paged, he can depend on getting the staff he needs to fully-respond to the call.

"There's 25, 24 of us. Very seldom do you have to re-page because two guys showed up," Faken said.

That strength was tested on Easter Sunday, when a wildfire broke out north of Lancaster.

Faken said the call came in around noon and started on about 200 acres. The response included one plane, two helicopters and 26 firefighters — 10 from the U.S. Forest Service and 16 from Lancaster.

By the time crews arrived, the fire had already jumped a road and reached a logging forest, where piles of dry logs caught fire quickly.

The flames then spread to a nearby field. Crews were able to contain it, and were back at the station by 8 p.m.

"Our eyes were burning from being in that stuff all day," Weleski said.

In total, about 400 acres burned. Still, the crew remains ready for the next call — no matter the holiday.

"We've had Mother's Day fires, we call them, out in Caribou," Weleski said.

While they didn't have a Mother's Day fire on the west side of Minnesota in Kittson County this year, they did in St. Louis County on the east side of the state.

The first fire broke out May 11 with another two sparking the next day all north of Duluth. Combined they have scorched more than 30,000 acres.

Volunteer and paid on-call departments make up 87% of the 774 fire departments in Minnesota, according to the Office of the State Auditor.

Currently, the state has 20,038 total firefighters, including career firefighters. Twenty years ago, there were nearly that many volunteers and paid on-call members alone. Since then, the state has lost more than 2,600 firefighters — a drop of nearly 13%.

In the last five years, 43 all-volunteer departments in northwestern Minnesota have lost about 7% of their staff, according to the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office.

At the same time, calls for service are increasing. Firefighter calls overall are up 2.7%, with the largest category increase being “other fires,” which includes wildfires — up nearly 54%.

The state has responded with increased aid. In the past five years, state fire and supplemental aid — which supports firefighter pensions — increased 49%, from $35.9 million in 2019 to more than $53.6 million in 2024.

Lancaster’s share increased by 27.7%, from $14,014 to $17,904 in 2024.

Still, individual firefighter stipends have fluctuated. The fiscal year 2025 stipend is $258, compared to $220 in 2024 and $300 in 2023.

Meanwhile, budgets for the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education, which are funded through the Fire Safety Account, have varied — $4.4 million one year, $2.1 million another.

That’s why departments like Lancaster rely on other funding sources: local, state and federal grants, county and city taxes, and community fundraising.

"We usually do a burger feed every spring," Weleski said.

That burger feed helps cover fire service for about 950 residents in the Lancaster area.

North Dakota

North Dakota has seen a significant increase in its firefighting force over the past five years.

According to the North Dakota Insurance Department, the state has added about 2,000 more volunteer and paid-on-call firefighters since 2019. That brings the total number of firefighters in the state to about 7,424 in 2024 — a 37% increase from 5,410 in 2019.

That growth in personnel outpaces the increase in emergency calls, which have risen by about 28%, from 40,921 in 2019 to 52,208 in 2024.

Despite the overall rise in calls, the number of fire-specific incidents, which include all types of fires, has fluctuated between 2,500 and 4,500 each year, with an average of about 3,400 annually.

The number of volunteer fire departments has slightly declined, with 10 fewer departments now operating, bringing the total to 334. However, the state has added two more career departments, now totaling nine.

It's a shift the Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office said more departments are taking to fix staffing, retention or recruiting issues.

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Trees killed by caterpillar outbreak helped fuel recent Minnesota wildfires

Jimmy Lovrien — Fri, 23 May 2025 18:23:00 GMT

BRIMSON, Minn. — As wildfires spread north of Duluth earlier this month, updates from fire officials on the largest two — Jenkins Creek and Camp House fires — often included a line noting the fire was burning through “a landscape heavily impacted by the spruce budworm.”

A large outbreak of the eastern spruce budworm — a caterpillar native to the region that feeds off balsam fir and white spruce trees — is defoliating the trees and stressing or killing them, which can then help fuel wildfires.

Last year, the budworm affected some 712,000 acres, or 1,100 square miles, of Minnesota forests, almost all in the state's Arrowhead region, the largest area since 1961, according to Eric Otto, a forest health specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in northeastern Minnesota. If you look at the last four years, it’s affected almost twice that area, according to the DNR’s most recent Forest Health Annual Report.

“Spruce budworm, currently, is probably one of our biggest forest health issues, especially in regards to the amount of acres it damages each year,” Otto said.

In its caterpillar form, the spruce budworm eats away at the needles of white spruce and balsam fir. (Despite its name, it prefers — and does the most damage to — balsam fir.) Then, as a moth, it lays its eggs on the needles of those trees.

An outbreak in a specific area can last 6 to 10 years, which is about as long as the trees can withstand the budworm’s feeding, according to the DNR.

Otto said that when that food source is gone, the budworms move to an adjacent area, causing an outbreak there. After a 30-to-60-year cycle, they’re back at that first area.

That’s about as long as it takes the balsam fir in the understory to mature, replacing the trees that died in the last outbreak, and for the budworm population to take over again, said Anna Stockstad, an extension educator focused on forest ecosystem health with the University of Minnesota Extension.

Otto said the region last saw an outbreak in the 1990s.

Too much balsam fir

Budworm or not, balsam fir is good at spreading fire thanks to its flammable needles, low branches and resinous bark, Otto said.

Those properties act as a ladder fuel, spreading flames from the forest floor to the canopy, where trees otherwise resistant to low-intensity fires can catch fire.

“Even if we didn’t have this spruce budworm outbreak, with the way the forest is composed, we would probably still have these fires,” Otto said, noting the fires were likely human-caused, during exceptionally dry and windy conditions.

But, Otto said, the budworm outbreak probably altered the fire behavior, as dead balsam fir are particularly dry in the spring, some 5 to 8 years after dying from budworm. It isn’t until 10 years or so after the balsam firs die that they start to decompose, increasing their moisture content.

There’s now an overabundance of balsam fir, the budworm’s preferred meal, thanks in part to fire suppression during the 20th and 21st centuries, Stockstad said.

Without regular, low-intensity fires clearing a mature forest’s underbrush, where shade-tolerant balsam firs thrive, the tree species can build up.

“So this means we have a lot of dense mature balsam fir on the landscape, which is just like candy for spruce budworm,” Stockstad said. “And so when we have more of the food source for spruce budworm, we’re going to see higher population in spruce budworm itself.”

As the region’s paper mills have shrunk or closed, so too has the market for balsam fir in northeastern Minnesota.

The closure of Duluth’s Verso paper mill in 2020 left UPM Blandin in Grand Rapids as the last mill buying fir in the region, but it’s too far from the budworm outbreak, Otto said.

While some loggers can bring balsam chips to Minnesota Power’s Hibbard Renewable Energy Center in Duluth, which burns wood waste to produce electricity, Chris Dunham, the Nature Conservancy’s associate director of resilience forestry in northeastern Minnesota, said that “doesn’t match the demand in any way, shape or form.”

Still, Stockstad said landowners should consider removing dead balsam, which could be chipped, piled to make wildlife habitats, or, under the right conditions, burned.

Then, landowners can start to consider planting other species of trees.

Striving for a diverse forest

Foresters don’t want to eliminate balsam fir — or even budworms — altogether. Instead, they want more of a variation of tree species, particularly those that can survive low-intensity fires and withstand a warming climate.

Dunham and the Nature Conservancy, which partners with government agencies and private landowners, are in the midst of planting 2.5 million trees in northern Minnesota this year. Species include red oak, bur oak, white cedar, yellow birch, tamarack, black spruce and white pine.

“Diversity is the superpower of the forest,” Dunham said. “That’s what enables us to hedge our bets against what is likely coming down the pike. We want to be diverse so that if there’s something that affects another species, we’re not just putting all our eggs in one basket.”

But planting millions of trees is just the first step.

Dunham said crews then must monitor and maintain planting sites for 7 to 10 years to make sure they survive, by pruning for blister rust, clearing brush and guarding against deer.

White pine and white cedar are “absolutely beloved by deer,” Stockstad said, making it hard to establish those species without fencing and other protection. Meanwhile, balsam fir is not a preferred browse species for deer, allowing the tree species to flourish.

“We can’t just cut it and walk away,” Dunham said. “It’s going to take some intervention and investment.”

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Jenkins Creek Fire was human-caused, initial investigation shows

Staff reports — Wed, 21 May 2025 22:30:12 GMT

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.

Jenkins Creek Fire status, Wednesday, May 21 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.”

Camp House Fire status, Wednesday, May 21 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.”

Munger Shaw Fire status, Wednesday, May 21 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.

Weather forecast

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.

Evacuations

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.

For questions about Camp House, Jenkins Creek fires

U.S. Forest Service hotline: 218-206-6805

How you can help

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.”]]>

Minnesota filmmaker returns to cabin and finds ‘just absolute destruction’

Mathew Holding Eagle III / MPR News — Tue, 20 May 2025 16:13:07 GMT

Fighting back tears, documentary filmmaker Keri Pickett sifted through the rubble of what remained of her northeastern Minnesota cabin Sunday after the Camp House fire swept through the area earlier in the week.

“Everything at the ground level, all the metal roofing is on top of a pile of just absolute destruction,” she said. “Everything is kind of melted together and a huge jumble, and it just looks like an ancient site, like it’s been here for a million years like this.”

Pickett’s cabin, purchased through an inheritance after her aunt’s death, was only about a half-mile from the epicenter of the blaze. The only things that were spared were a cast-iron pan and, surprisingly, a recently built sauna.

“It was saved because I had a huge amount of chopped firewood right behind it, and the fire came towards the sauna, but then that hot, hot fire must have stopped it from advancing. It created a fire break,” she said. “Even though the back side of the sauna, the wiring is melted, and the wood is charred, the sauna looks totally usable.”

But the sauna was locked when the fire arrived, and the key was in the cabin at the time. Pickett was searching through what was left to find it so she could see the extent of the fire’s damage to the interior.

Pickett said char lines on some of the surrounding trees went up 30 feet. Almost a week later, after fire swept through the area, she said areas of her property were still smoldering.

“My neighbor down the road, he lost his childhood home, his parents’ home, and he lost it right away,” she said.

Pickett was later joined by another neighbor, Greg Ruberg, who stopped by to check on her. He said all the buildings on his property — about a quarter-mile from Pickett’s — were fine, as the fire appeared to burn all the way around them following the lakeshore up a ridge.

While he credits getting rid of some balsam trees earlier in the year for protecting his property, he said the real heroes are the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the firefighters.

“The planes, helicopters and float planes were dropping water on the front of the fire. And I think we just got really lucky,” he said. “I watched plane after plane hit the fire from the road. I could tell our property was burning. I could see the smoke coming up from the road, so I knew around the cabin was burning.”

While Ruberg’s property made it out of the ordeal relatively unscathed, he said others weren’t as fortunate.

“I’m kind of heartbroken for everybody around me, because I know people lost their homes and their cabins and garages,” he said. “All three other properties on this road are completely gone, including a relative and others.”

The Minnesota Interagency Coordination Center reports that favorable weather conditions over the weekend helped in the fight against the wildfires in northeastern Minnesota, but that’s forecast to change.

“The fact that we’ve had a little bit of rain, you know, we are still in that dry condition, and the humidities go back down later in the week,” said Mary Nordeen, MNICC public information officer. “So that high fire danger remains.”

More than 400 firefighters are helping fight the blazes.

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This story was originally published on MPRNews.org.

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If no rain, gusting wind may be ‘game-changer’ for NE fires, sheriff says

Katie Rohman — Thu, 15 May 2025 20:01:52 GMT

BRIMSON, Minn. — St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said winds gusting up to 70 mph Thursday afternoon could be a “game-changer” for firefighting efforts if there isn’t rain as well.

The sheriff reported in a Facebook video around 12:15 p.m. that authorities were concerned about high winds from 4 to 9 p.m. that could fuel the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires.

A gale warning in effect along the North Shore from 1 to 8 p.m. is expected to produce 3- to 6-foot waves on Lake Superior, the National Weather Service in Duluth reported.

Ramsay said some firefighters have been reallocated to the Jenkins Creek Fire, which is growing faster than the Camp House and Munger Shaw fires. All three fires were zero percent contained as of early Thursday afternoon.

Crews were monitoring the growth of the Jenkins Creek Fire in the direction of Hoyt Lakes. As of early Thursday afternoon, the tip of the fire was 6.5 to 7 miles from the city, which has a population of around 2,000. Ramsay said there was a very slim chance the fire could reach Hoyt Lakes in the next 24 hours.

Jenkins Creek Fire crews were working Thursday morning to protect the fire from spreading to an AT&T communications tower and the unincorporated community of Fairbanks, located just west of Cadotte Lake and the Superior National Forest’s Cadotte Lake Campground, and 18 miles southeast of Hoyt Lakes.

The Eastern Area Incident Management Team, which manages the Brimson Complex, including the Camp Fire and Jenkins Creek fires, said in an update at 11 a.m. Thursday that a dozen crews were constructing a line on the south side of the Jenkins Creek Fire. Planes dropped water Wednesday to protect the communications tower.

“The fire is fueled by mixed forest vegetation and spruce budworm-infested forest stands,” the update read. “Dead and distressed balsam and aspen prone to ignition pose a significant hazard for firefighters.”

Weather forecast

A strong low-pressure system moving in Thursday could bring showers and thunderstorms to the Arrowhead by the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Duluth. Severe storms are possible in the afternoon and evening; however, the best chances are in northwestern Wisconsin.

The forecast for Brimson on Thursday called for a high of 81 degrees and a chance of showers between noon and 4 p.m. and possible thunderstorms after 4 p.m. Relative humidity was 69%.

The NWS reported that the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires will continue to spread heavy ground-level smoke Thursday. Winds shifted to the southeast and will push the smoke plumes northwest, affecting portions of St. Louis, Itasca and Koochiching counties through the afternoon.

The NWS lifted the Red Flag Warning for Minnesota on Wednesday, but outdoor burning is discouraged.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert for fine particle pollution in northeastern Minnesota until 4 p.m. Thursday. The Air Quality Index is expected to reach the orange level (unhealthy for sensitive groups, including those with lung disease, asthma, heart disease, children and older adults.

Jenkins Creek Fire status, 8:44 a.m. Thursday Started: Monday Acres: 15,570 Location: East of Hoyt Lakes Cause: Under investigation Resources: 5 engines, 3 tenders, 3 tracked vehicles, air support Eastern Area Complex Incident Management Team notes: “The hot, windy weather in recent days led to some extreme fire behavior with crown torching and crown spread. The fire jumped Forest Road 120 (Skibo Road) and pushed north. Unlike the Camp House Fire, the Jenkins Creek Fire was not impacted by lake-effect winds. This fire is burning in mixed boreal forest and grassy ground cover; this area is heavily infested by spruce budworm, so there is an abundance of distressed and dead balsam fir and white spruce. Those ‘snags’ are especially prone to ignition.” Ground access could be limited due to swamps, rivers and a lack of forest roads. Camp House Fire status, 8:44 a.m. Thursday Started: Sunday Acres: 14,979 Location: Brimson Cause: Under investigation Resources: 32 engines, 13 tenders, 6 dozers, 3 tracked vehicles, air support Eastern Area Complex Incident Management Team notes: “Firefighters are engaged in full suppression tactics on the fire and are providing protection to threatened structures and infrastructure around the fire perimeter. The fires have been active, making short runs in the pine overstory — especially in areas with heavy spruce budworm infestation. Fire has proved challenging due to the influence of unpredictable shifting ‘lake turbulence’ winds.” Crews were working to protect an AT&T communications tower. Munger Shaw Fire status, 11:50 a.m. Thursday Started: Monday Acres: 1,600 Location: 2 miles east of Elora Lake Cause: Undetermined Resources: 65 personnel Minnesota Interagency Command Team A notes: “Continue use of aircraft and ground personnel, dozers, and track vehicles to continue establishing an anchor point and containment line.” The fire was “creeping and smoldering.” Sixty-five personnel were on the scene. Evacuations

St. Louis and Lake counties will contact residents in their respective counties if they need to evacuate.

Evacuation centers

St. Louis County Public Health and American Red Cross shelter at the Fredenberg Community Center, 5104 Fish Lake Road, Duluth Old �� Lives, 9165 U.S. Highway 53, Cotton How you can help

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota

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.