DULUTH, MN (KDAL) – As of Thursday morning, there are 15 active wildfires in northern Minnesota with 4 active fires inside the BWCAW.
Although the number of fires have decreased, some of the fires have merged into larger, single events. Canada is experiencing similar wildfire activity and multiple fires have crossed the International Border.
Crews continue to work under hot, dry and smoky conditions and are using full fire suppression strategies, where conditions allow. Heavy smoke and visibility issues are limiting the use of aircraft in fighting the fires. Officials say the Superior National Forest has not experienced such widespread and extreme fire conditions in over twenty years.
St. Louis, Lake and Cook Counties have initiated Ready-Set-Go status in several areas and a public shelter has been opened in the Babbitt Municipal Building. A wildfire evacuation map can be found online at https://sheriff-slcgis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/wildfire.
Fire danger continues to be very high from Duluth through the Arrowhead and up the North Shore with dry, hot and windy conditions. The fire danger is likely to remain high through the end of the month. Besides the weather conditions, the area includes high fuel loads due to dry vegetation and spruce budworm affected trees that are increasing fire behavior.
Smoke from the Minnesota and Canadian fires have prompted Air Quality Alerts for much of Minnesota and Wisconsin and will continue to affect the region though Friday and that alert may need to be extended.
Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, should remain indoors and keep activity levels low. The general public should also avoid all physical activities outdoors.
Current air quality information can be found at the MPCA site:
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/current-air-quality-conditions?utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email
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