Northeastern Minnesota Wildfires Destroy 40 Homes, Burn 20,000 Acres, Prompt National Guard Deployment

Wildfires in northeastern Minnesota have rapidly expanded, consuming over 20,000 acres and destroying at least 40 homes and buildings, with the largest being the Camp House fire that has burned approximately 12,000 acres. These fires have prompted evacuations and raised concerns for people who did not evacuate, as officials work to locate them. The fires remain uncontained amid unseasonably high temperatures and low humidity, conditions that continue to drive dangerous fire weather in the region. Governor Tim Walz has activated the National Guard to assist fire crews on the ground and from the air, while fire weather warnings and air quality alerts have been issued for northeastern Minnesota. Fire officials report challenges including limited road access due to toppled trees and are receiving additional air support from the U.S. Forest Service. Weather forecasts indicate that the heat will begin to subside midweek, potentially easing fire conditions.