Governor Tim Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard on Saturday to assist firefighting operations across the northern region of the state, declaring a peacetime emergency as multiple blazes threatened communities and forced evacuations.
The deployment came after the Department of Natural Resources requested additional support to combat fires spreading across the landscape. Guard members will provide staffing, equipment, and logistical aid to supplement firefighting crews already stretched thin by rapidly expanding burn zones.
"Unpredictable and fast-moving wildfires are putting Minnesota communities at risk," Walz said. "This emergency declaration ensures we can fully mobilize the resources needed to protect lives, support evacuations, and help communities respond and recover."
Two major fires dominated the crisis. The Stewart Trail fire near Two Harbors had consumed approximately 355 acres by Saturday evening, while the Flanders fire in Crow Wing county had burned about 1,200 acres. Crews battled both blazes as dry conditions and strong winds accelerated their spread throughout the weekend.
The Stewart Trail fire proved particularly destructive. Lake County Sheriff Nathan Stadler reported that preliminary assessments showed the fire destroyed 34 structures, including eight primary residences and 26 secondary buildings. Mandatory evacuations remained in effect Sunday for all properties northeast of Two Harbors, and State Highway 61 was closed between Two Harbors and Silver Bay.
By Sunday afternoon, containment of the Stewart Trail fire had reached 30 percent, but officials cautioned that shifting wind patterns and strengthening gusts could hamper further progress. Authorities imposed a temporary flight restriction over the affected areas and warned the public against operating drones near active fires, which could interfere with aerial firefighting operations.
"The crews are doing the best they can. They're working hard to get this fire under control, get the area safe, so that people can get back into their properties," Stadler said at a Saturday news conference, acknowledging the stress on residents and first responders alike.
Author James Rodriguez: "When you're deploying the Guard to fight fires, you know the state has lost control of the situation, and that's exactly where Minnesota sits right now."
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