Duluth Man Charged For Camp House Fire Destroying 150 Structures

A 27-year-old Duluth man, Parker John Wilson, has been charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly starting the Camp House Fire in May by leaving a campfire unattended. The blaze rapidly spread during a period of hot, dry, and windy weather, ultimately burning over 12,000 acres near Brimson, Minnesota, destroying more than 150 structures including homes and cabins, and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate. The Camp House Fire was one of three major wildfires in northern Minnesota that month, with the Jenkins Creek Fire being the largest. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which investigated the fire, emphasized that more than 90 percent of wildfires in the state are human-caused and reminded the public to follow fire safety regulations. Governor Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency to mobilize resources for recovery efforts following the fires. Under Minnesota law, failing to control or extinguish a fire before it causes damage is punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.