Northern Minnesota fires: If no rain, gusting wind may be ‘game-changer,’ sheriff says

BRIMSON St Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay stated winds gusting up to mph Thursday afternoon could be a game-changer for firefighting efforts if there isn t rain as well The sheriff informed in a Facebook video around p m that executives were concerned about high winds from - p m that could fuel the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires A gale warning in effect along the North Shore from - p m is expected to produce - to -foot waves on Lake Superior the National Weather Arrangement in Duluth announced Ramsay revealed specific firefighters have been reallocated to the Jenkins Creek Fire which is growing faster than the Camp House and Munger Shaw fires All three fires were zero percent contained as of early Thursday afternoon Crews were monitoring the expansion of the Jenkins Creek Fire in the direction of Hoyt Lakes As of early Thursday afternoon the tip of the fire was to miles from the city which has a population of around Ramsay commented there was a very slim chance the fire could reach Hoyt Lakes in the next hours Jenkins Creek Fire crews were working Thursday morning to protect the fire from spreading to an AT T communications tower and the unincorporated society of Fairbanks located just west of Cadotte Lake and the Superior National Forest s Cadotte Lake Campground and miles southeast of Hoyt Lakes The Eastern Area Circumstance Management Association which manages the Brimson Complex including the Camp Fire and Jenkins Creek fires declared in an update at a m Thursday that a dozen crews were constructing a line on the south side of the Jenkins Creek Fire Planes dropped water Wednesday to protect the communications tower The fire is fueled by mixed forest vegetation and spruce budworm-infested forest stands the update read Dead and distressed balsam and aspen prone to ignition pose a vital hazard for firefighters Jenkins Creek Fire status a m Thursday Started Monday Acres Location East of Hoyt Lakes Cause Under scrutiny Guidance engines tenders tracked vehicles air sponsorship Eastern Area Complex Matter Management Company notes The hot windy weather in contemporary days led to several extreme fire behavior with crown torching and crown spread The fire jumped Forest Road Skibo Road and pushed north Unlike the Camp House Fire the Jenkins Creek Fire was not impacted by lake-effect winds This fire is burning in mixed boreal forest and grassy ground cover this area is heavily infested by spruce budworm so there is an abundance of distressed and dead balsam fir and white spruce Those snags are especially prone to ignition Ground access could be limited due to swamps rivers and a lack of forest roads Camp House Fire status a m Thursday Started Sunday Acres Location Brimson Cause Under assessment Support engines tenders dozers tracked vehicles air backing Eastern Area Complex Event Management Group notes Firefighters are engaged in full suppression tactics on the fire and are providing protection to threatened structures and infrastructure around the fire perimeter The fires have been advancing making short runs in the pine overstory especially in areas with heavy spruce budworm infestation Fire has proved challenging due to the influence of unpredictable shifting lake turbulence winds Crews were working to protect an AT T communications tower Munger Shaw Fire status a m Thursday Started Monday Acres Location miles east of Elora Lake Cause Undetermined Materials personnel Minnesota Interagency Command Squad A notes Continue use of aircraft and ground personnel dozers and track vehicles to continue establishing an anchor point and containment line The fire was creeping and smoldering Sixty-five personnel were on the scene Evacuations St Louis and Lake counties will contact residents in their respective counties if they need to evacuate St Louis County s ready set go evacuation zone map denotes evacuation status in yellow orange and red along with recommended plans to protect residents and their property Lake County s ready set go evacuation zone map denotes evacuation status in yellow orange and red along with recommended plans to protect residents and their property Evacuation centers St Louis County Constituents Strength and American Red Cross shelter at the Fredenberg Society Center Fish Lake Road Duluth Old School Lives U S Highway Cotton Weather forecast A strong low-pressure system moving in Thursday could bring showers and thunderstorms to the Arrowhead by the afternoon according to the National Weather Institution in Duluth Severe storms are practicable in the afternoon and evening however the best chances are in Northwestern Wisconsin The forecast for Brimson on Thursday calls for a high of degrees and a chance of showers between noon and p m and accomplishable thunderstorms after p m Relative humidity was The NWS reports that the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires will continue to spread heavy ground-level smoke Thursday Winds shifted to the southeast and will push the smoke plumes northwest affecting portions of St Louis Itasca and Koochiching counties through the afternoon The NWS lifted the Red Flag Warning for Minnesota on Wednesday but outdoor burning is discouraged The Minnesota Trash Control Agency issued an air quality alert for fine particle contamination in Northeastern Minnesota until p m Thursday The Air Quality Index is expected to reach the orange level unhealthy for sensitive groups including those with lung infection asthma heart sickness children and older adults How you can help United Way of Northeastern Minnesota For residents impacted in St Louis County It is working to establish a wildfire recovery fund Immediate assistance is offered through its Comforts of Home project which replaces lost items with referrals from agencies like the Red Cross and St Louis County All proceeds go to impacted group members Donate online unitedwaynemn org firehelp Donate via mail United Way of Northeastern Minnesota East Drive Chisholm MN Head of the Lakes United Way For residents impacted in Lake County All proceeds go to impacted group members Donate online hlunitedway harnessgiving org campaigns Donate via mail Head of the Lakes United Way W Superior St Duluth MN include a note indicating wildfire relief Related Articles Stillwater prison to close as part of budget deal reached by state leaders Minnesota Freedom Fund to stop bailing out jailed defendants More evacuations ordered in northeastern Minnesota wildfires Trump administration poised to eliminate vigor assistance effort Rochester NAACP police grapple with false alleges on racial video