Camp House, Jenkins Creek Fires Burn 35,000 Acres, Destroy 140+ Structures in Minnesota

The Camp House Fire in St. Louis County, Minnesota, has rapidly expanded to approximately 15,000 acres, destroying more than 140 structures and prompting ongoing evacuations. Authorities are actively searching for one individual whose house was destroyed and whose whereabouts remain unknown. Alongside the Camp House Fire, two other major wildfires—the Jenkins Creek Fire and the Munger Shaw Fire—are also burning with zero containment, covering over 20,000 acres combined. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has assumed command of fire management, coordinating efforts including the deployment of the National Guard to combat the blazes. Officials attribute the fires' rapid spread to environmental conditions such as wind gusts, low humidity, warm temperatures, dry underbrush, and dead trees affected by insect infestations. Road closures remain in effect, and evacuation orders continue for affected areas as investigations into the causes, including potential suspects in the Camp House Fire, are underway.