MN wildfires: 3 uncontained wildfires continue to grow
Crews fight to contain wildfires in northern MN
Multiple wildfires in northern Minnesota remain uncontained as crews work to extinguish the flames. FOX 9's Soyoung Kim has the latest.
BRIMSON, Minn. (FOX 9) - Three uncontained wildfires continue to burn in northern Minnesota, torching thousands of acres and destroying more than 140 structures.
Authorities are asking people to evacuate some areas in anticipation of the weather changing on Thursday.
Overview of wildfires
![Sheriff weighs in on wildfire progress [RAW]](https://c107833-mcdn.mp.lura.live/expiretime=2082787200/fa3648f202dbb2f45ff9970c4fcbcca6b7fa640cf3e722a23c3282baee0ee974/vupl/AB9/BF9/AB9BF92D95866D34B2FE950611A39591-0-1747243738423.jpg)
Sheriff weighs in on wildfire progress [RAW]
St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay joins FOX 9 All Day on Wednesday to give an update on the firefighting efforts, evacuations and causes of the three large wildfires in northern Minnesota.
Big picture view:
The Jenkins Creek fire has surpassed the Camp House fire in size as of Wednesday morning. The three fires have burned more than 37,000 acres and are 0% contained.
"All three fires are still very active and there’s no real signs of them slowing," St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said in an update Tuesday night.
The Eastern Area Complex Incident Management Team took over the Jenkins Creek fire and Camp House fire, which are now being managed as the Brimson Complex fires.
Sheriff Ramsay told FOX 9 these fires are "probably going to go down as one of the more historic fires in our lifetime."
RELATED: Minnesota wildfires maps: Evacuation areas, latest information
Minnesota wildfires continue to spread: The latest
Three wildfires in northern Minnesota have destroyed more than 100 structures and are burning uncontained. FOX 9's Bill Keller has the latest.
Camp House Fire
What we know:
The Camp House wildfire started around 1 p.m. on May 11 in Ault Township, about two miles northeast of Brimson, Minnesota.
The fire has grown to nearly 15,000 acres as of Wednesday morning. At least 146 structures have been destroyed thus far, and that number continues to actively grow.
The fire had been growing to the north, east and west and was still actively spreading and burning as of Tuesday night. There are no active evacuations as of Tuesday night, but previous evacuation orders remain in place.
As of Wednesday evening, the wildfire is mainly burning in wilderness areas and officials are continuing to monitor it closely.
What caused the fire?:
The sheriff says this fire appears to have started with a camp fire that was left unattended. He adds that the DNR has identified the person who started the fire.
READ MORE: MN wildfires: Sheriff reveals potential causes for fires
Jenkins Creek Fire
What we know:
The Jenkins Creek Fire started on May 11 near Hoyt Lakes, just north of the Camp House wildfire. The fire was detected east of County Road 110 and north of County Road 16 near Jenkins Creek.
As of Tuesday night, the fire was actively growing to the north and west along Highway 16. The Jenkins Creek Fire has now surpassed the Camp House Fire, burning nearly 20,600 acres.
A couple of structures have been damaged or destroyed, but the sheriff said the fire remains too active to check and get further details.
Evacuations took place in the Skibo area, and additional pre-evacuation warnings were issued to residents along Highway 11 on Tuesday.
There are current road closures on Townline Road at Forest Highway 11 along with Forest Highway 11 at Mooseline Road near the City of Hoyt Lakes as of Wednesday evening.
What caused this fire?:
According to the sheriff, this fire might have started with a discarded cigarette along Highway 16, as it began near a roadway.
Munger Shaw Fire
What we know:
The Munger Shaw Fire developed on the afternoon of May 12 in Cotton Township, about 25 miles southwest of the Camp House fire. Officials said the wildfire started growing in size on Tuesday, and has burned an estimated 1,700 acres.
"Flare-ups are still happening, and the fire is still dangerous," said Sheriff Ramsay.
READ MORE: MN wildfires: Leaders hope rain brings relief later this week
As the fire slowly moves north, evacuation orders have started in the Pioneer Lake area and Morley Beach Road area.
Officials have also closed the following roads in the area:
- Three Lakes Road at Winkle Lane (no east bound traffic).
- Three Lakes Road at Rush Lake Grade (no west bound traffic).
- Munger Shaw Road is closed at the Morley Beach Road (no south bound traffic).
Evacuations are also requested for residents who live along Munger Shaw Road and side roads leading up to Comstock Lake Road. These include:
- Tantuu Road
- Elde Road
- Moreley Beach Road
Authorities say the requested evacuations are due to concerns of the changing weather anticipated for Thursday.
What caused the fire?:
This fire appears to have started with a bail of hay that combusted and then quickly spread, Sheriff Ramsay said. The homeowner called 911 immediately, but it was already too late when authorities got there.
Weather conditions
Upcoming rain could help wildfire conditions
FOX 9 meteorologist Jared Piepenburg talks about the upcoming rain and wind that could help the current wildfire conditions.
The forecast:
There is no longer a red flag warning in place for northeastern regions, and the overall weather conditions have slightly improved. There’s a slight increase in humidity, while temperatures are in the low 80s and there’s a possible chance for thunderstorms later in the day.
Additional rain chances are expected on Thursday, though there’s a concern of potential lightning strikes. Friday will include some showers and lighter winds, which could help with the wildfires and current conditions.
The Source: This report uses information from the St. Louis County Sheriff, previous FOX 9 reporting, fire officials and the Watch Duty App.