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05/12/2025 01:55PM
Not much info on this fire now, by Forest Hwy 11 started sometime today and estimated over 100 acres and appears to be really kicking up according to the Superior NF website. Sorry I do not have a link. Jenkins Creek Wildfire, I'm guessing it is a few miles NW of the other fire.
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
05/12/2025 02:15PM
marsonite: "Saw that. I'm starting to wonder if there's an arsonist out there. "
Anything is possible.
From St Louis County.
NOTICE: Due to extremely dry and windy conditions the Jenkins Creek Fire has rapidly grown to several hundred acres in size. The Forest Service Cadotte Lake Campground is being evacuated and closed as a precaution action due to its location due east of this fire. Please visit the St. Louis County Sheriff's Emergency Management Website for all area fire evacuation updates:
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
05/12/2025 02:32PM
NOTICE: Due to extremely dry and windy conditions the Jenkins Creek Fire has rapidly grown to several hundred acres in size. The Forest Service Cadotte Lake Campground is being evacuated and closed as a precaution action due to its location due east of this fire and the amount of time it takes to notify and move campers. Please visit the St. Louis County Sheriff's Emergency Management Website for all area fire evacuation updates:
05/12/2025 03:53PM
I can see the smoke from these fires in Duluth.
FIRE UPDATE: "The Jenkins Creek Fire is estimated to be 800 acres in size and still increasing in size. Multiple aircraft and ground firefighters are engaged in suppression actions. Steady winds and dry conditions continue to contribute to fire growth. A Minnesota Type 3 Incident Management Team has been ordered to help manage additional fire suppression actions and resources. The Team will in brief this evening."
Guessing they will call in a national Type II team soon to manage these fires.
FIRE UPDATE: "The Jenkins Creek Fire is estimated to be 800 acres in size and still increasing in size. Multiple aircraft and ground firefighters are engaged in suppression actions. Steady winds and dry conditions continue to contribute to fire growth. A Minnesota Type 3 Incident Management Team has been ordered to help manage additional fire suppression actions and resources. The Team will in brief this evening."
Guessing they will call in a national Type II team soon to manage these fires.
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
05/12/2025 05:11PM
LindenTree: "I can see the smoke from these fires in Duluth.
FIRE UPDATE: "The Jenkins Creek Fire is estimated to be 800 acres in size and still increasing in size. Multiple aircraft and ground firefighters are engaged in suppression actions. Steady winds and dry conditions continue to contribute to fire growth. A Minnesota Type 3 Incident Management Team has been ordered to help manage additional fire suppression actions and resources. The Team will in brief this evening."
Guessing they will call in a national Type II team soon to manage these fires."
I believe the Camp House fire is out of the SNF so that's a state IC team. The Jenkins creek fire is in the National Forest.
I guess the good news about the Jenkins Creek fire is that assuming it's burning to the north...there's not much up there but bush.
I read that the Camp House fire was burning actively overnight. That's crazy for May.
05/12/2025 06:00PM
plander: "Link may be of interest for all the fires. Jenkins Creek Fire is at 1500 acres as of 5:15 PM local time.
Fireweatheravslanche.org "
wow,that took off. I understand some of these area thee balsam were killed by bud spruce worm
05/12/2025 06:36PM
marsonite: "LindenTree: "I can see the smoke from these fires in Duluth.
FIRE UPDATE: "The Jenkins Creek Fire is estimated to be 800 acres in size and still increasing in size. Multiple aircraft and ground firefighters are engaged in suppression actions. Steady winds and dry conditions continue to contribute to fire growth. A Minnesota Type 3 Incident Management Team has been ordered to help manage additional fire suppression actions and resources. The Team will in brief this evening."
Guessing they will call in a national Type II team soon to manage these fires."
I believe the Camp House fire is out of the SNF so that's a state IC team. The Jenkins creek fire is in the National Forest. "
Understood, national teams manage many incidents for local, state, tribal and other jurisdictions.
Incident Management Teams
An incident management team (IMT) is dispatched or mobilized during complex emergency incidents to provide a command and control infrastructure in order to manage the operational, logistical, informational, planning, fiscal, community, political, and safety issues associated with complex incidents.
IMTs include people from federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities. They volunteer to perform the collateral responsibilities of incident management response in addition to their regular employment duties.
Complex incident management teams (CIMT) are available for assignment to manage large-scale, complex incidents anywhere in the United States. They most commonly respond to large wildfires, but CIMTs can be assigned to any complex all-risk situation including VIP visits or multi-day special events, search and rescue efforts, and hurricanes, floods, and other disasters. Interagency wildland fire teams were assigned to assist FEMA after the September 11th attack, the 2003 Columbia shuttle recovery effort, and Hurricane Katrina.
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
05/12/2025 06:46PM
inspector13: "
Even another fire further to the south east and closer to Duluth has developed.
"
Correct by Cotton MN. Sounds like that one is kicking up as well. Looks like it has a good head of steam on it according to the pics I saw.
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
05/12/2025 06:54PM
LindenTree: "inspector13: "
Even another fire further to the south east and closer to Duluth has developed.
"
Correct by Cotton MN. Sounds like that one is kicking up as well. Looks like it has a good head of steam on it according to the pics I saw."
Further from me, but I have seen the condition of the forest between there and Silver Bay.
05/12/2025 07:11PM
LindenTree: "marsonite: "LindenTree: "I can see the smoke from these fires in Duluth.
FIRE UPDATE: "The Jenkins Creek Fire is estimated to be 800 acres in size and still increasing in size. Multiple aircraft and ground firefighters are engaged in suppression actions. Steady winds and dry conditions continue to contribute to fire growth. A Minnesota Type 3 Incident Management Team has been ordered to help manage additional fire suppression actions and resources. The Team will in brief this evening."
Guessing they will call in a national Type II team soon to manage these fires."
I believe the Camp House fire is out of the SNF so that's a state IC team. The Jenkins creek fire is in the National Forest. "
Understood, national teams manage many incidents for local, state, tribal and other jurisdictions.
Incident Management Teams
An incident management team (IMT) is dispatched or mobilized during complex emergency incidents to provide a command and control infrastructure in order to manage the operational, logistical, informational, planning, fiscal, community, political, and safety issues associated with complex incidents.
IMTs include people from federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities. They volunteer to perform the collateral responsibilities of incident management response in addition to their regular employment duties.
Complex incident management teams (CIMT) are available for assignment to manage large-scale, complex incidents anywhere in the United States. They most commonly respond to large wildfires, but CIMTs can be assigned to any complex all-risk situation including VIP visits or multi-day special events, search and rescue efforts, and hurricanes, floods, and other disasters. Interagency wildland fire teams were assigned to assist FEMA after the September 11th attack, the 2003 Columbia shuttle recovery effort, and Hurricane Katrina."
I haven't seen a federal team manage a dnr fire but then my experience is limited. It is a MNICS team currently managing the Camp House fire.
I guess the Strib had a story stating that the Camp House fire was started by someone burning brush. Serious lack of judgment there!
05/12/2025 08:56PM
marsonite:
I haven't seen a federal team manage a dnr fire but then my experience is limited. It is a MNICS team currently managing the Camp House fire. "
5-10 years ago that was the case. Now all Incident Management Teams are interagency the DNR has no sole Incident Management teams. The Incident Commander of the House Camp fire, Jeb Beck, is a USFS employee, and yes they are a MINIC's team until/if it goes to a national CIMT team.
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
05/13/2025 06:14AM
LindenTree: "marsonite:
I haven't seen a federal team manage a dnr fire but then my experience is limited. It is a MNICS team currently managing the Camp House fire. "
5-10 years ago that was the case. Now all Incident Management Teams are interagency the DNR has no sole Incident Management teams. The Incident Commander of the House Camp fire, Jeb Beck, is a USFS employee, and yes they are a MINIC's team until/if it goes to a national CIMT team."
Interesting. Did not know that. It makes sense.
Do you think they will have the same team manage the Jenkins creek fire or will it have a separate team?
05/13/2025 08:00AM
marsonite: "LindenTree: "marsonite: "LindenTree: "I can see the smoke from these fires in Duluth.
FIRE UPDATE: "The Jenkins Creek Fire is estimated to be 800 acres in size and still increasing in size. Multiple aircraft and ground firefighters are engaged in suppression actions. Steady winds and dry conditions continue to contribute to fire growth. A Minnesota Type 3 Incident Management Team has been ordered to help manage additional fire suppression actions and resources. The Team will in brief this evening."
Guessing they will call in a national Type II team soon to manage these fires."
I believe the Camp House fire is out of the SNF so that's a state IC team. The Jenkins creek fire is in the National Forest. "
Understood, national teams manage many incidents for local, state, tribal and other jurisdictions.
Incident Management Teams
An incident management team (IMT) is dispatched or mobilized during complex emergency incidents to provide a command and control infrastructure in order to manage the operational, logistical, informational, planning, fiscal, community, political, and safety issues associated with complex incidents.
IMTs include people from federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities. They volunteer to perform the collateral responsibilities of incident management response in addition to their regular employment duties.
Complex incident management teams (CIMT) are available for assignment to manage large-scale, complex incidents anywhere in the United States. They most commonly respond to large wildfires, but CIMTs can be assigned to any complex all-risk situation including VIP visits or multi-day special events, search and rescue efforts, and hurricanes, floods, and other disasters. Interagency wildland fire teams were assigned to assist FEMA after the September 11th attack, the 2003 Columbia shuttle recovery effort, and Hurricane Katrina."
I haven't seen a federal team manage a dnr fire but then my experience is limited. It is a MNICS team currently managing the Camp House fire.
I guess the Strib had a story stating that the Camp House fire was started by someone burning brush. Serious lack of judgment there! "
My son is a volunteer fireman at the Ferry Township Rural Fire Protection District (Manvel ND) while he is getting his aviation degree at UND. He has been on several calls this spring for this very reason. Just last week a local "accidentally" too out his grove of trees.
Fate whispers to the warrior "You cannot withstand the storm" and the warrior whispers back "I am the storm". Unknown.
05/13/2025 10:00AM
40+ structures destroyed on the Camp House Fire.
From WDIO
"The fire sizes have grown considerably overnight, according to authorities. Sheriff Gordon Ramsay provided a video statement on Tuesday morning.
The Camp House Fire is now at 12,000 acres. Evacuation orders remain the same.
The Jenkins Creek Fire is at 6,800 acres, and is threatening a more populated area. Sheriff Ramsay said the Skibo area will be under evacuation, as there is concern about that fire growing.
The Munger Shaw fire, also called the Three Lakes Fire is at 1,300 acres, but the evacuation orders have been lifted as of Monday morning.
Ramsay said the Forest Service said they are adding more air support today.
He repeated that it is illegal to cross any road closures."
From WDIO
"The fire sizes have grown considerably overnight, according to authorities. Sheriff Gordon Ramsay provided a video statement on Tuesday morning.
The Camp House Fire is now at 12,000 acres. Evacuation orders remain the same.
The Jenkins Creek Fire is at 6,800 acres, and is threatening a more populated area. Sheriff Ramsay said the Skibo area will be under evacuation, as there is concern about that fire growing.
The Munger Shaw fire, also called the Three Lakes Fire is at 1,300 acres, but the evacuation orders have been lifted as of Monday morning.
Ramsay said the Forest Service said they are adding more air support today.
He repeated that it is illegal to cross any road closures."
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
05/13/2025 10:32AM
LindenTree: "40+ structures destroyed on the Camp House Fire.
From WDIO
"The fire sizes have grown considerably overnight, according to authorities. Sheriff Gordon Ramsay provided a video statement on Tuesday morning.
The Camp House Fire is now at 12,000 acres. Evacuation orders remain the same.
The Jenkins Creek Fire is at 6,800 acres, and is threatening a more populated area. Sheriff Ramsay said the Skibo area will be under evacuation, as there is concern about that fire growing.
The Munger Shaw fire, also called the Three Lakes Fire is at 1,300 acres, but the evacuation orders have been lifted as of Monday morning.
Ramsay said the Forest Service said they are adding more air support today.
He repeated that it is illegal to cross any road closures."
"
Thanks for the update
wow,I thought it would off died down over night. Get through Wednesday weather should change drastically.
05/13/2025 10:53AM
Pinetree: "LindenTree: "40+ structures destroyed on the Camp House Fire.
From WDIO
"The fire sizes have grown considerably overnight, according to authorities. Sheriff Gordon Ramsay provided a video statement on Tuesday morning.
The Camp House Fire is now at 12,000 acres. Evacuation orders remain the same.
The Jenkins Creek Fire is at 6,800 acres, and is threatening a more populated area. Sheriff Ramsay said the Skibo area will be under evacuation, as there is concern about that fire growing.
The Munger Shaw fire, also called the Three Lakes Fire is at 1,300 acres, but the evacuation orders have been lifted as of Monday morning.
Ramsay said the Forest Service said they are adding more air support today.
He repeated that it is illegal to cross any road closures."
"
Thanks for the update
wow,I thought it would off died down over night. Get through Wednesday weather should change drastically."
Even though it is stated that it grew considerably last night that is very doubtful, most likely this morning was the first time that the fires received an accurate mapping. I thought to myself yesterday when I could see the smoke from Duluth that these fires have to be way bigger than 1,500 acres each. I am 50 miles south of the fires and the smoke column was moving north.
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
05/13/2025 10:59AM
BRIMSON — The largest of three wildfires in St. Louis County has grown to 12,000 acres since Sunday and consumed over 40 homes, cabins and other buildings, St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said Tuesday.
No injuries have been reported at any of the wildfires.
After a briefing from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Forest Service, the sheriff reported in a Facebook video around 8:30 a.m. that the Camp House Fire has "zero percent containment."
Camp House Fire map.jpg
Gary Meader / Duluth Media Group
"That fire grew significantly to the north and northwest yesterday," he said.
Evacuation orders were still in place for residents affected by the Camp House Fire.
No injuries have been reported at any of the wildfires.
After a briefing from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Forest Service, the sheriff reported in a Facebook video around 8:30 a.m. that the Camp House Fire has "zero percent containment."
Camp House Fire map.jpg
Gary Meader / Duluth Media Group
"That fire grew significantly to the north and northwest yesterday," he said.
Evacuation orders were still in place for residents affected by the Camp House Fire.
05/13/2025 11:02AM
Red Flag Warnings are in effect. The Minnesota DNR reported that 65 counties had advisories Tuesday due to low humidity, high winds and dry fuels. Don't burn at all. Be cautious operating hot motors and exhaust systems, like lawnmowers and farming equipment, near vegetation, as well as equipment with metal that may hit rocks or pavement. Check fire danger and burning restrictions at
05/13/2025 11:21AM
Note that the MINICS fire team will transition to a national CIMT. I am guessing they will take over command and control of both the Camp House fire and the Jenkins Creek fire. Perhaps calling it the Brimson Complex (Guessing).
NOTE-This will be the last shift for the MNICS Team C. Tomorrow morning a Complex Incident Management Team from the Eastern Region will transition to command of the Camp House Fire.
Current Status: Firefighters continue full suppression tactics on the fire while providing structure protection to threatened structures in the fire area. Fire activity was high yesterday, consisting of group torching, running and spotting. The fire has spotted over both natural features and area roads. Firefighting resources continue working on the fire at night providing structure
protection. Additional resources have been ordered. Fire has been very active the last two days with the burning period going into the night. Aerial mapping of the fire has been done at night
with infrared camera due to the active burning period during the day.
Planned Activities: Firefighting resources are preparing for another active fire day. In-state and out-of-state resources will continue building fire lines with heavy equipment and tracked
equipment. Air resources continue water drops in support of fire, as available. If drones are detected near the fire, all air operations supporting the fire will stop.
NOTE-This will be the last shift for the MNICS Team C. Tomorrow morning a Complex Incident Management Team from the Eastern Region will transition to command of the Camp House Fire.
Current Status: Firefighters continue full suppression tactics on the fire while providing structure protection to threatened structures in the fire area. Fire activity was high yesterday, consisting of group torching, running and spotting. The fire has spotted over both natural features and area roads. Firefighting resources continue working on the fire at night providing structure
protection. Additional resources have been ordered. Fire has been very active the last two days with the burning period going into the night. Aerial mapping of the fire has been done at night
with infrared camera due to the active burning period during the day.
Planned Activities: Firefighting resources are preparing for another active fire day. In-state and out-of-state resources will continue building fire lines with heavy equipment and tracked
equipment. Air resources continue water drops in support of fire, as available. If drones are detected near the fire, all air operations supporting the fire will stop.
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
05/13/2025 01:16PM
LindenTree I see yesterday in Isabella the humidity was like 15 % around 0800 and today were running around 25%.
What % humidity do you really call critical and really low?
I know this past few days, low humidity and wind is drying -things out more than a Pop Tart(that is pretty low).
Moisture content in debris and wood must be awful low now?
What % humidity do you really call critical and really low?
I know this past few days, low humidity and wind is drying -things out more than a Pop Tart(that is pretty low).
Moisture content in debris and wood must be awful low now?
05/13/2025 01:24PM
Pinetree: "LindenTree I see yesterday in Isabella the humidity was like 15 % around 0800 and today were running around 25%.
What % humidity do you really call critical and really low?
I know this past few days, low humidity and wind is drying -things out more than a Pop Tart(that is pretty low).
Moisture content in debris and wood must be awful low now?"
It all depends where you are.
In the Desert SW 3-5 percent is critically low.
In Florida fires get snappy at 35 percent but will readily burn at RH's above 60 percent.
In MN below 20 percent is low and that number is one of the criteria the NWS uses for declaring Red Flag warnings. I feel critical RH's in MN are below 15 percent. You pretty much only get RH's below 15% in MN during the spring when vegetation hasn't flushed/greened up yet.
Interesting, my old boss from Alaska is a MN boy and transferred back here about 5 years ago. He (Mike Hill) is now the Incident Commander of the Jenkins Creek fire, MINICS team A.
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
05/13/2025 01:48PM
LindenTree: "Pinetree: "LindenTree I see yesterday in Isabella the humidity was like 15 % around 0800 and today were running around 25%.
What % humidity do you really call critical and really low?
I know this past few days, low humidity and wind is drying -things out more than a Pop Tart(that is pretty low).
Moisture content in debris and wood must be awful low now?"
It all depends where you are.
In the Desert SW 3-5 percent is critically low.
In Florida fires get snappy at 35 percent but will readily burn at RH's above 60 percent.
In MN below 20 percent is low and that number is one of the criteria the NWS uses for declaring Red Flag warnings. I feel critical RH's in MN are below 15 percent. You pretty much only get RH's below 15% in MN during the spring when vegetation hasn't flushed/greened up yet.
Interesting, my old boss from Alaska is a MN boy and transferred back here about 5 years ago. He (Mike Hill) is now the Incident Commander of the Jenkins Creek fire, MINICS team A."
Thanks, very informative.
05/13/2025 03:05PM
Walz noted that Minnesota usually experiences, on average, a little over 1,100 wildfires per year. The state has seen 970 fires on more than 37,000 acres so far in 2025.
“Last night, a lot of our firefighters (were) out there with no sleep, and pretty dangerous conditions out there,” he said.
No injuries have been reported at any of the wildfires.
Trees burning
Multiple trees burn in the Munger Shaw Fire near Three Lakes Road on Tuesday.Wyatt Buckner / Duluth Media Group
Sarah Strommen, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, said fire danger conditions have been very high this season, and “extreme” since Sunday. She advised the public to adhere to the National Weather Service’s Red Flag Warning advisories and the DNR’s burning restrictions.
“These are dangerous fires that are still moving,” Walz said. “Just don’t burn. It is just too hot, too dry, too dangerous.”
Patty Thielen, director at the DNR’s forestry division, said in her nearly 30 years working there, the weather over the last few days is “really unprecedented.”
Thielen noted that the three St. Louis County wildfires were zero percent contained as of early Tuesday afternoon, and that the dry and windy conditions Tuesday and Wednesday are conducive to wildfire spread.
Two men stand by a St. Louis County Sheriff's Office truck, looking at smoke in the distance
The Camp House Fire can be seen from the road closure at the intersection of County Highway 15 and County Highway 2 on Tuesday.Wyatt Buckner / Duluth Media Group
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced around 2 p.m. Tuesday on Facebook the pre-evacuation of residents in the Kane Lake, Marble Lake and Thomas Lake areas.
“Due to the fire movement, you may need to evacuate,” the post read. “If an evacuation order is confirmed, an official will notify you.”
DNR staff are managing the Munger Shaw Fire, while a larger team will take the helm of the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires at 8 a.m. Wednesday, she said. Dozens of volunteer departments from across the state have responded to the fires, in addition to the military, U.S. Forest Service and other responders.
Several white men stand near rear of fire truck on two-lane highway in wooded rural area
Bemidji firefighters stand along Brimson Road in Brimson, Minn., as they wait to be called for assistance protecting structures threatened by the Camp House Fire.Jay Gabler / Duluth Media Group
John Cunningham, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, said that Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are helping wildfire efforts by sharing information with state agencies and providing other support.
“Recovery is going to be vitally important to the communities impacted,” he noted. “This is a significant event.”
Bemidji firefighter Jake Wettschreck was part of a crew awaiting orders in Brimson on Tuesday.
“We’re a structure-based fire department, so we’re here to help the properties, the houses, the infrastructure in the fire, as opposed to fighting the fire directly itself,” Wettschreck said. "That’s pretty rare that we do that on a scale this big.
“I’ve had previous experience as a resident in incidents like this, so I understand what it’s like, being able to give back, and what that means to people.”
Camp House Fire
The largest of three wildfires in St. Louis County has grown to 11,780 acres since Sunday and consumed over 40 homes, cabins and other buildings.
Camp House Fire map.jpg
Gary Meader / Duluth Media Group
“That fire grew significantly to the north and northwest yesterday,” St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said in a Facebook video Tuesday morning.
Evacuation orders were still in place for residents affected by the Camp House Fire.
The area of County Highway 44 has been particularly “devastated” by property loss, Ramsay said.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office reported on Facebook at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday that the Camp House Fire was moving north, so Minnesota Incident Command closed County Highway 16 from the intersection of St. Louis County highways 110 and 16 to the intersection of Forest Highway 15 and County Highway 2 in Lake County. Traffic was directed north.
Walz authorized the Minnesota National Guard to assist with the Camp House Fire on Monday. The U.S. Forest Service also deployed additional helicopters and planes to help fight the three wildfires.
Jenkins Creek Fire
Smoke rises above evergreen trees
A large plume of smoke rising from Jenkins Creek Fire can be seen from Hugo's Bar in Brimson on Tuesday.Wyatt Buckner / Duluth Media Group
The second wildfire, Jenkins Creek, ignited Monday morning about 14 miles southeast of Hoyt Lakes, east of the intersection of county roads 110 and 16. It grew to 1,500 acres by the evening and was around 6,800 acres as of Tuesday afternoon.
Jenkins Creek Fire location.jpg
Gary Meader / Duluth Media Group
The unincorporated community of Skibo, in Bassett Township, was evacuated. At least one building has been lost in the Jenkins Creek Fire.
“They are predicting that fire to grow throughout the day and are concerned about it,” especially north toward more populated areas, Ramsay said.
Fire trucks, seen from behind, driving down a road lined with evergreens
Two fire trucks head up County Highway 44 toward the Jenkins Creek Fire.Wyatt Buckner / Duluth Media Group
Munger Shaw Fire
The third wildfire, Munger Shaw, started Monday afternoon northeast of Canyon and southeast of Cotton and was 1,400 acres as of Tuesday afternoon.
Munger Shaw Fire location.jpg
Gary Meader / Duluth Media Group
Residents in the eastern half of Cotton Township were evacuated, but that order has since been lifted.
“Right now, the DNR is somewhat optimistic” about the suppression efforts at the Munger Shaw Fire, Ramsay said.
A wildfire burns near several vehicles
“Last night, a lot of our firefighters (were) out there with no sleep, and pretty dangerous conditions out there,” he said.
No injuries have been reported at any of the wildfires.
Trees burning
Multiple trees burn in the Munger Shaw Fire near Three Lakes Road on Tuesday.Wyatt Buckner / Duluth Media Group
Sarah Strommen, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, said fire danger conditions have been very high this season, and “extreme” since Sunday. She advised the public to adhere to the National Weather Service’s Red Flag Warning advisories and the DNR’s burning restrictions.
“These are dangerous fires that are still moving,” Walz said. “Just don’t burn. It is just too hot, too dry, too dangerous.”
Patty Thielen, director at the DNR’s forestry division, said in her nearly 30 years working there, the weather over the last few days is “really unprecedented.”
Thielen noted that the three St. Louis County wildfires were zero percent contained as of early Tuesday afternoon, and that the dry and windy conditions Tuesday and Wednesday are conducive to wildfire spread.
Two men stand by a St. Louis County Sheriff's Office truck, looking at smoke in the distance
The Camp House Fire can be seen from the road closure at the intersection of County Highway 15 and County Highway 2 on Tuesday.Wyatt Buckner / Duluth Media Group
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced around 2 p.m. Tuesday on Facebook the pre-evacuation of residents in the Kane Lake, Marble Lake and Thomas Lake areas.
“Due to the fire movement, you may need to evacuate,” the post read. “If an evacuation order is confirmed, an official will notify you.”
DNR staff are managing the Munger Shaw Fire, while a larger team will take the helm of the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires at 8 a.m. Wednesday, she said. Dozens of volunteer departments from across the state have responded to the fires, in addition to the military, U.S. Forest Service and other responders.
Several white men stand near rear of fire truck on two-lane highway in wooded rural area
Bemidji firefighters stand along Brimson Road in Brimson, Minn., as they wait to be called for assistance protecting structures threatened by the Camp House Fire.Jay Gabler / Duluth Media Group
John Cunningham, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, said that Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are helping wildfire efforts by sharing information with state agencies and providing other support.
“Recovery is going to be vitally important to the communities impacted,” he noted. “This is a significant event.”
Bemidji firefighter Jake Wettschreck was part of a crew awaiting orders in Brimson on Tuesday.
“We’re a structure-based fire department, so we’re here to help the properties, the houses, the infrastructure in the fire, as opposed to fighting the fire directly itself,” Wettschreck said. "That’s pretty rare that we do that on a scale this big.
“I’ve had previous experience as a resident in incidents like this, so I understand what it’s like, being able to give back, and what that means to people.”
Camp House Fire
The largest of three wildfires in St. Louis County has grown to 11,780 acres since Sunday and consumed over 40 homes, cabins and other buildings.
Camp House Fire map.jpg
Gary Meader / Duluth Media Group
“That fire grew significantly to the north and northwest yesterday,” St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said in a Facebook video Tuesday morning.
Evacuation orders were still in place for residents affected by the Camp House Fire.
The area of County Highway 44 has been particularly “devastated” by property loss, Ramsay said.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office reported on Facebook at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday that the Camp House Fire was moving north, so Minnesota Incident Command closed County Highway 16 from the intersection of St. Louis County highways 110 and 16 to the intersection of Forest Highway 15 and County Highway 2 in Lake County. Traffic was directed north.
Walz authorized the Minnesota National Guard to assist with the Camp House Fire on Monday. The U.S. Forest Service also deployed additional helicopters and planes to help fight the three wildfires.
Jenkins Creek Fire
Smoke rises above evergreen trees
A large plume of smoke rising from Jenkins Creek Fire can be seen from Hugo's Bar in Brimson on Tuesday.Wyatt Buckner / Duluth Media Group
The second wildfire, Jenkins Creek, ignited Monday morning about 14 miles southeast of Hoyt Lakes, east of the intersection of county roads 110 and 16. It grew to 1,500 acres by the evening and was around 6,800 acres as of Tuesday afternoon.
Jenkins Creek Fire location.jpg
Gary Meader / Duluth Media Group
The unincorporated community of Skibo, in Bassett Township, was evacuated. At least one building has been lost in the Jenkins Creek Fire.
“They are predicting that fire to grow throughout the day and are concerned about it,” especially north toward more populated areas, Ramsay said.
Fire trucks, seen from behind, driving down a road lined with evergreens
Two fire trucks head up County Highway 44 toward the Jenkins Creek Fire.Wyatt Buckner / Duluth Media Group
Munger Shaw Fire
The third wildfire, Munger Shaw, started Monday afternoon northeast of Canyon and southeast of Cotton and was 1,400 acres as of Tuesday afternoon.
Munger Shaw Fire location.jpg
Gary Meader / Duluth Media Group
Residents in the eastern half of Cotton Township were evacuated, but that order has since been lifted.
“Right now, the DNR is somewhat optimistic” about the suppression efforts at the Munger Shaw Fire, Ramsay said.
A wildfire burns near several vehicles
05/13/2025 03:06PM
Linden Tree
this weather as hot as it is a young mans job fighting fires. Heat exhaustion, dehydration, smoke-so much stress on the body. today.
There has to be some health problems going to have to be attended to.
83 degrees F. and wind 22 MPH in Isabella at 1500
this weather as hot as it is a young mans job fighting fires. Heat exhaustion, dehydration, smoke-so much stress on the body. today.
There has to be some health problems going to have to be attended to.
83 degrees F. and wind 22 MPH in Isabella at 1500
05/13/2025 06:22PM
At least 100 structures have been affected, Ryan Williams of the Minnesota Incident Command System said during a news conference just before noon Tuesday at the Two Harbors Fire Department. Later Tuesday, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said the number had risen to 140 structures.
05/13/2025 07:16PM
I'm wondering if I should consider the wildfires as a potential cause for canceling my entry this weekend. Given how fast they've grown and how little they've been contained, even though they're far away, the smoke seems substantial, based on WhiteWolf's picture. I don't know that I want to be breathing that for a week.
05/13/2025 07:27PM
JD: "I'm wondering if I should consider the wildfires as a potential cause for canceling my entry this weekend. Given how fast they've grown and how little they've been contained, even though they're far away, the smoke seems substantial, based on WhiteWolf's picture. I don't know that I want to be breathing that for a week."
Judging from the forecast I would definitely go. We are switching to a much cooler and wetter pattern starting Thursday. Maybe not enough rain to put these fires out, but even cool temperatures and higher humidity is going to calm things a lot. Early next week the highs are forecast in the 50’s plus the wind is supposed to be from the east.
05/13/2025 07:30PM
Pinetree: " community pulling together "
That spruce budworm has left swaths of tinderboxes. Adding fuel to the fire is the lack of forest management by many property owners - most places I visit are fairly neglected forest, teaming with combustible materials (I've been working with sweat filler brow to clear my property & I understand why many owners neglect to properly manage their forests, it is time consuming, laborious, & costly with no immediate concern/return, only future risk which may never materialize).
"Watch money. Money is the barometer of society's virtue...Whenever destroyers appear among men, they start by destroying money." -Francisco D'Anconia
05/13/2025 08:57PM
Pinetree: "Linden Tree
this weather as hot as it is a young mans job fighting fires. Heat exhaustion, dehydration, smoke-so much stress on the body. today.
There has to be some health problems going to have to be attended to.
83 degrees F. and wind 22 MPH in Isabella at 1500"
You must be a Boomer. You do understand that women fight fires as well, Don't you? 80° isn't that hot. Well then firefighters fight fires in the desert when it's 120° and 7% RH.
05/13/2025 09:00PM
toastedmarshmallow12: "Pinetree: "Linden Tree
this weather as hot as it is a young mans job fighting fires. Heat exhaustion, dehydration, smoke-so much stress on the body. today.
There has to be some health problems going to have to be attended to.
83 degrees F. and wind 22 MPH in Isabella at 1500"
You must be a Boomer. You do understand that women fight fires as well, Don't you? 80° isn't that hot. Well then firefighters fight fires in the desert when it's 120° and 7% RH. "
Yes I apologize big time, its a young woman's and young mans job.
They have had woman for 25 years on the fire line with the MN DNR in my town of Brainerd.
Yes 85 degrees is hot, add another 40-50 decrees close to a fire.
05/14/2025 10:18AM
The two larger fires are about 35,000 acres now and will be known as the Brimson Complex.
Brimson Complex/Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires
Brimson Complex/Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires
May the rivers be crooked and winding, and your portages lonesome, leading to the most amazing view.
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