Crews are battling two growing wildfires that ignited over the weekend north of Brimson, Minnesota. The fires, which are burning in a mixed forest, were reported on Sunday and Monday. Ground and air support, along with suppression efforts, will continue in the Superior National Forest (SNF) until further notice. It comes after dry and windy conditions, with multiple counties throughout the state on high alert for fire danger.
Camp House Fire
May 13 Update:
Size: 11,778 acres
Status: 0% Contained
According to the Minnesota Incident Command System (MICS), firefighting crews are preparing for another active day. “Activity was high yesterday, with group torching, running, and spotting,” MICS posted on Facebook. “The fire has jumped over both natural features and area roads. Firefighting crews continue working through the night to protect structures.”
May 12 Update
Size: 1,250 acres
Status: 0% Contained
The Camp House Fire started Sunday near Camp House Road, 2 miles northeast of Brimson, one hour north of Duluth, on the southern edge of the Superior National Forest.
Over 56 personnel on the ground and by air are managing the blaze. While priority is on firefighter safety, they will also take action to secure buildings and structures. “Air resources, heavy equipment, and ground resources will continue to suppress the fire. If drones are detected near the fire, all air operations supporting the fire will stop,” the Minnesota Incident Command System (MICS) said. They will continue to provide midday updates daily.
Crews have conducted controlled burns throughout the spring to reduce wildfire risk. These burns also promote a healthy ecosystem across the more than 3 million acres of the national forest. Though the SNF is mostly a boreal forest, it also contains areas of mixed forest and wetland.
Jenkins Creek Fire
May 13 Update:
Size: 6,800 acres
Status: 0% Contained
The fire continues to spread rapidly through the forest. According to MICS, the incident command system, additional firefighting personnel and aircraft will join the effort today. The fire crossed the St. Louis River and reached a section of Forest Road 120 (Skibo Road) west of Stone Lake. “A Type 3 Team, (MNICS) Team A, was ordered to help manage this fire and assumed command at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. Wildfires are categorized in complexity, with 5 being the lowest complexity and 1 being the highest complexity,” authorities posted on Facebook.
May 12 Update:
Size: 1,500 acres
Status: 0% Contained
The Jenkins Creek Fire ignited within the past two days and has already grown to 1,500 acres. It’s burning about 15 miles north of Brimson. The fire is located north of County Road 16, east of County Road 110, and west of Cadotte Lake.
Unseasonably warm temperatures have made the situation especially tough. “Contract aircraft, local fire department volunteers, state employees, and federal employees have been working their hardest and best to suppress this fire under extremely challenging conditions,” the USFS–Superior National Forest posted on Facebook.
Aircraft are scooping water from nearby lakes and dropping it on the fire, with multiple engines and ground crews also responding. However, limited ground access complicates firefighting efforts. Smoke from the fire is drifting north and may impact the communities of Babbitt and Ely.
Counties under high alert
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning for 80 counties. It doesn’t necessarily mean a fire is present, but that conditions are ideal for one. This is due to high winds and low relative humidity. Additionally, the forest has been impacted by a large spruce budworm outbreak, making the region more susceptible to these types of challenges.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources publishes daily updates on wildfire risk and burning restrictions across the state. Users can find a breakdown of risk levels ranging from moderate to extreme. “When fire risk is this high, any spark can ignite a wildfire,” said Karen Harrison, a DNR wildfire prevention specialist. “People must exercise extreme caution until conditions improve.”
Evacuations are underway
Authorities are issuing evacuation notifications to area residents as needed. Please use caution and avoid driving near the area. Real-time information and locations can be found online at InciWeb. Or, text “FIRE” to 66468 to receive text updates on current wildfire risk and open burning restrictions in Minnesota.
Federal, state, and tribal agencies are cooperating to manage these incidents. It’s unknown at this time how they started, and the investigation is ongoing. According to the Minnesota Incident Command System, the fires are 0% contained at this time. We will add updates here as they become available.
Wildfire safety
Before you start a fire, be sure there aren’t burning restrictions in place. You can find more info at the Superior National Forest website or by calling one of the district ranger stations.
- Put out campfires completely before you go to bed or leave your site. Never leave a fire unattended. If restrictions are in place, plan on using a camp stove.
- Allow your fire to burn to ash, if possible. Heavily douse with water until all embers are out and the hissing sound stops.
- Avoid activities that include open flames or sparks.
- Ideally, burn within steel fire grates or rings.
- Avoid using power equipment that creates sparks.
- Do not burn trash. Burning plastic and foil pollutes the air and water.
- Transporting wood from out of state is prohibited due to the spread of tree diseases and pests.
More info:
- Camp House Fire – InciWeb
- Jenkins Creek Fire – InciWeb
- Camp House Fire Update – Minnesota Incident Command System
- Update on the Jenkins Creek Fire – Minnesota Incident Command System
- Extreme fire danger continues – Minnesota Department of Natural Resources