A Minnesota National Guard member looks down over an active wildfire from inside a helicopter.
Officials believe the likely culprit behind these fires are lightning strikes, and the current weather isn’t helping much. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, it’s so dry that just one spark could ignite a catastrophic wildfire.
How to watch:
- What: Officials give update on Minnesota wildfire response.
- Who: Spokespersons for Superior National Forest, Minnesota DNR and more.
- When: 1 p.m. on Monday, July 20.
- How to watch: In the attached media player, live on CBS News Minnesota and streamed in full on YouTube.
Three of the fires are inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, including the largest active fire named the Thumb Fire, which alone has burned more than 14,000 acres. As of Sunday night, officials say some of those fires have merged, changing the number of fires burning.
The BWCA remains closed to campers until at least Friday as pilots and firefighters continue to flock to Ely to help contain the flames.
The second-largest fire currently is the Bear Trap Fire, which has burned more than 13,000 acres so far. It’s located about a mile from cabins, homes and resorts along Big Lake and the Echo Trail.
Burn restrictions are in effect across the state. Campfires and recreational fires are now banned in Cook, Koochiching, Lake and northern St. Louis counties, and parts of Itasca County. Parts of George Washington State Forest and Scenic State Park that extend into Itasca County are also under burn restrictions.
Gov. Tim Walz earlier this week extended a peacetime emergency through mid-September. The order directs additional resources to fight the fires, including the Minnesota National Guard.
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