Crews gaining upper hand on Iron Range blaze
More than 200 firefighters working to subdue a 1,000-acre wildfire battled critically low humidity, gusty winds and a dramatic wind shift Monday, and still managed to keep the Skibo Fire from growing.
"The firefighters passed the test," said fire information officer Lisa Radesovich-Craig. "The fire stayed within the perimeter."
Officials estimated Tuesday morning the fire burning about two miles east of the eastern Iron Range town of Hoyt Lakes, Minn., is now 57 percent contained.
A total of 217 firefighters from 12 different states, including three elite hotshot crews from western states, are still battling the fire. They've been aided by two helicopters dropping water on the fire.
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As many as 300 crew members were on scene at the peak of firefighting efforts, including volunteer firefighters from the nearby communities of Aurora, Hoyt Lakes and Palo.
Crews are now focused on strengthening containment lines and "mopping up" 100 feet toward the center of the fire.
"They're walking the fires with their pulaskis, their tools, making sure everything is out," explained Radesovich-Craig.
Winds are expected to gust to 25 miles per hour Tuesday, and humidity is expected to remain low. But showers and cooler temperatures forecast for Tuesday afternoon are expected to help firefighters increase containment.
Officials still don't know how the Skibo fire started. It began on Friday between Hoyt Lakes and the tiny community of Skibo. Two or three households with permanent residents, as well as an unknown number of people in seasonal residences, were evacuated.
Firefighters have largely contained two smaller fires burning near Embarrass and Finland.