Flanders wildfire: Crow Wing County declares emergency due to fire

Flanders wildfire: Crow Wing County declares emergency

Fire crews continue working the Flanders wildfire on Monday, focusing on hot spots and reinforcing containment lines, according to the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office. FOX 9's Soyoung Kim has more.

BREEZY POINT, Minn. (FOX 9) - Fire crews continue working the Flanders wildfire on Monday, focusing on hot spots and reinforcing containment lines, according to the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.

Flanders Fire battle

The backstory:

The fire started on Saturday, May 16, about 10 miles east of Breezy Point in Crow Wing County.

Crosslake Mayor Jackson Purfeerst gives Flanders wildfire update

Crosslake Mayor Jackson Purfeerst joined FOX 9 News at 5 to provide an update on the Flanders wildfire and how it's impacting the Breezy Point area. The fire has burned thousands of acres, and is near 20% contained.

In an update on Monday afternoon, the fire's size was now estimated to be about 1,700 acres, according to the Minnesota Incident Command System. Fire containment remains at 20% with 139 personnel members working to battle flames.

The fire has threatened 20 structures and the cost of the fire so far is estimated at $1.4 million in damage, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Crow Wing County declares local emergency

Local perspective:

Monday afternoon, Crow Wing County declared a local emergency due to the wildfire.

The county says the emergency declaration allows them to "act more quickly to gain funding and assistance for residents and local businesses."

The local emergency is in effect for three days unless the county board votes to extend it. The board will meet Wednesday morning for an emergency meeting.

County Road 11 to reopen Monday

Flanders Fire update: Crosslake Mayor on latest updates

The Flanders fire in the Crow Wing State Forest is currently 20% contained. Officials say most of the active flames are now out, but there are still a lot of hot spots to watch for. Crosslake Mayor Jackson Purfeerst joins us live to give an update on the situation.

Local perspective:

In an update on Monday, officials said the area received some rain overnight, but not enough to significantly improve fire conditions. More scattered showers and storms are possible in Minnesota on Monday night. 

County Road 11 remains closed as emergency crews continue operating in the area, though it is expected to reopen at noon on Monday for pass-through traffic. Even after the road reopens, officials warned that firefighters and emergency personnel will still be actively working nearby and asked the public not to interfere with operations.

Property owners within the evacuation zone will also be allowed to return to their properties during the day. Authorities cautioned residents that assessments of fire-damaged properties have not yet been completed and asked people to limit time spent in the evacuation area if possible.

What they're saying:

"Our priority remains protecting lives, property, and the safety of everyone in the area," the sheriff’s office said in an update.

Authorities are also urging people without a reason to be in the area to stay away, including sightseers and curious onlookers, saying unnecessary traffic creates safety concerns for both responders and the public.

Firefighters continue containment work 

Big picture view:

Firefighters spent Sunday building and strengthening containment lines around the wildfire, helping crews reach 20% containment. Local fire departments also deployed engines and crews to protect nearby homes and structures while dozer lines were reinforced along the north and south sides of the fire. Crews also continued constructing fire lines on the eastern edge of the burn area.

Overnight, firefighters patrolled the fire perimeter and extinguished hot spots and flare-ups. Crews will continue mop-up operations Monday, working to secure fire lines and check roads and damaged properties for hazardous trees, according to MNICS. 

Evacuations in Crow Wing County remain in effect.