Minnesota wildfire updates: Crews continue to battle fires near Brimson, Hoyt Lakes

Cool, wet weather has allowed firefighters battling massive wildfires still burning in northern Minnesota to make progress containing the blazes — but drier, gustier weather is expected to return later this week.

There are now about 600 firefighters from around the country fighting the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires, which together have burned about 45 square miles of forest north of Duluth.

The Camp House fire near Brimson is now 40 percent contained. And for the first time fire officials have announced some containment of the larger Jenkins Creek Fire. That fire, burning about six miles east of Hoyt Lakes, is now listed as six percent contained.

Firefighters are working to protect the communities of Skibo and Hoyt Lakes from the Jenkins Creek Fire. Fire officials are keeping a close eye on that fire with conditions forecast to change later this week.

Camp House Fire near Brimson

• 12,277 acres as of Monday morning

• 40 percent containment

• About 150 structures destroyed, including homes and cabins

Jenkins Creek Fire southeast of Hoyt Lakes

• 16,332 acres as of Monday morning

• 6 percent containment

• At least one structure destroyed

Munger Shaw/Three Lake Road Fire east of Canyon

• 1,600 acres as of Sunday morning

• 75 percent containment

• At least one structure destroyed

Meanwhile, a main throughfare is back open in northeastern Minnesota after the wildfires tore through the area last week, but many evacuation orders remain in place.

Highway 16, also known as Town Line Road, reopened Monday morning to through traffic.

“Vehicles should avoid stopping anywhere in the evacuation ‘Go’ zones to minimize exposure and risk,” the St. Louis Sheriff’s Department said in a social media post. “Take extra care when driving through due to the continued presence of emergency crews, utility crews and other curious or distracted drivers.

All roads connecting to Highway 16 in a “Go” zone remain closed, and all “Go” zones remain in effect and should not be entered, except when transiting on Highway 16.

The sheriff’s department downgraded three zones directly south of the Camp House Fire over the weekend. Evacuation zones 7, 8 and 13 were downgraded to “Set,” allowing property owners and residents to return to their property full time, but maintain a “Set” status.

A community meeting for the Jenkins Creek and Camp House fires will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the Mesabi East High School Auditorium, 601 N. First St. W, Aurora.

Climate change a factor

State officials say climate change is a contributing factor in the wildfires in northeastern Minnesota. A combination of extremely hot, dry, windy weather and lingering drought created ripe conditions for the fires.

During a news conference last week, Sarah Strommen, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, said the state is trending toward hotter, drier weather and more extreme rainfalls.

“So we had a lot of rain recently here in Minnesota, and then it suddenly got very dry,” Strommen said. “It is not evenly spread. And so that also changes the nature of the fire season.”

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