Prompts winter weather advisories as cold air moves in Friday night

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

More evacuations of homes and cabins are underway in northeastern Minnesota's Lake County as 

 continues to spread.  Late Monday, the fire 

, after firefighters saw progress Sunday, 

Clark McCreedy with the fire's incident management team said Monday the fire is moving to the east.  That's prompted evacuations in the Kitigan, Grouse and Mitewan Lake areas, east of State Highway 1.

 the fire is expected to cross Highway 1 near the intersection of Lake County Highway 2.

But forecasters expect conditions to improve.

"Later in the week, temperatures are going to moderate, so we'll actually have some days in the 60s with chances of precipitation so much better weather that is conducive to gaining on a fire,” McCreedy said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Forest Service says the John Ek fire on the western edge of Cook County has grown to about 2,000 acres — over double the 800 acres reported early Monday.

The Whelp Fire nearby remained at about 50 acres Monday evening.

close the entire million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area over the weekend

 so crews aren't diverted to any search and rescue missions.

Dave Seaton owns Hungry Jack Outfitters on the Gunflint Trail, and said he's been contacting customers and refunding their deposits.

"I think in the short term, this is a good idea,” Seaton said. “And as time goes on and we get more rain, it'll be interesting to see if they open things up in certain places."

The Forest Service has cancelled all BWCA entry permits through this Friday, and rangers are paddling to campsites to tell visitors that they have to leave.

Forest officials delivered an update on the fires Monday evening.

Environmental News

NewsPartners

Matt Sepic

Author

Three wildfires in and around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Superior National Forest grew Monday amid gusty winds and continuing drought conditions.

A person runs behind a fire truck with fire and smoke all around.

Courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service via AP

Smoke is seen coming out of a dense forest.

Wildfires in northern Minnesota continue to grow

Go Deeper.

Like this?