Blizzard warnings in Northwest Minnesota, winter weather advisories across the state

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A wildfire in the Superior National Forest of northeastern Minnesota that crews have been fighting since the weekend has grown to 6 1/4 square miles, but U.S. Forest Service officials said Thursday morning that it grew little overnight.

The Forest Service said lightning caused the fire near Greenwood Lake, about 25 miles southwest of Isabella, Minn., which was first spotted Sunday. It 

to 6 1/4 by Wednesday evening, after what officials described as a “very active” afternoon of expansion on its western flank.

But in an update posted Thursday morning, Forest Service officials said there was no significant change overnight, which is often the case with forest fires. Thursday's forecast in the area called for continued hot, dry weather, with thunderstorms expected Friday night and Saturday.

The fire led authorities to evacuate around 75 homes Monday near McDougal Lake, just north of where the fire started. Many dwellings in the area, which is deep in the forest, are seasonal cabins. Superior National Forest spokesperson Joanna Gilkeson said Thursday that more homes may have to be evacuated. 

“The fire is being observed to move north and it's been moving west towards Highway 2. So, so the sheriff is looking at if it does hop Highway 2, there may be some additional evacuations,” Gilkeson told MPR News. “However, we do have structure protection crews along that Highway 2 corridor right now working to protect cabins and homes and other power infrastructure.”

Some small portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area to the north and northeast have been closed as a precaution due to the blaze and two smaller fires spotted over the weekend in the wilderness. No injuries and no damage to structures have been reported.

Crews are also fighting several smaller wildfires in northeastern Minnesota. Meanwhile, 

a series of explosive blazes propelled by gusts that have torn through Northern California

Authorities attack the Greenwood Fire from air and ground

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A wildfire in the Superior National Forest of northeastern Minnesota that crews have been fighting since the weekend has grown to 6 1/4 square miles. The Forest Service says lightning caused the fire near Greenwood Lake, which was first spotted Sunday.

Forest Service says lightning caused Minnesota wildfire

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