Eight separate fires were burning across the St. Louis County northwoods Friday night, forcing a handful of residents to leave their homes and pulling volunteer crews to multiple scenes across the region. County officials said the blazes stretched from near Babbitt and Gilbert to pockets around Cook, Greenwood Township, Cotton and Portage Township. Sheriff’s communications described a mix of grass and brush fires, with some reportedly sparked by people burning cardboard and others tied to downed power lines. Firefighters worked into the evening to protect structures and cut containment lines as winds picked up.
In a Facebook post Friday, St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay wrote that the county "currently have 8 active fires in the county" and listed the affected areas, adding that "a couple of evacuations have taken place," according to the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office. The post urged residents to stay out of fire areas and to report any downed lines or new flames to 911 so crews could be sent where they were most needed. The sheriff did not provide acreage or containment estimates.
The National Weather Service in Duluth had a Fire Weather Watch and Red Flag advisories in effect for parts of northeastern Minnesota on Friday, warning that gusty winds and low relative humidity could cause rapid fire spread, according to the National Weather Service in Duluth. Those conditions, combined with unusually dry ground in some spots, added pressure on volunteer departments called out to rural fires.
Where crews are focused
Crews were concentrating on small towns and remote township roads, with the sheriff’s list including Babbitt and Gilbert along with incidents in Cook, Greenwood Township, Cotton and Portage Township. Earlier this month, a separate blaze destroyed a remote cabin and damaged nearby outbuildings in the region, highlighting how quickly spring fires can run on the Iron Range, according to Northern News Now. Volunteers from multiple districts were handling structure protection while larger wildland crews worked firelines where conditions allowed.
Public guidance and burn rules
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding residents that open burning is restricted during periods of high fire danger and that permits are often suspended under Red Flag conditions, and that it will not issue open-burning permits when danger is elevated, according to the Minnesota DNR. Officials urged people to skip any outdoor burning, drown and stir campfires until they are cold to the touch, and report downed power lines or unattended burn piles to local authorities.
How to stay informed
Residents in affected townships are advised to follow local evacuation orders and watch for updates from emergency officials. People can monitor the sheriff’s Facebook posts for rolling updates and use the county sheriff’s office contact information listed on the county website, according to St. Louis County. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911, while non-emergency questions can be directed to the sheriff’s main line.
