Raging Minnesota wildfires destroy over 140 buildings, impact air quality
ST.LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. – Relentless wildfires have continued to rapidly grow across parts of northeastern Minnesota north of Lake Superior, destroying at least 144 homes and buildings, after days of unseasonably high temperatures and low humidity.
Temperatures will finally cool Wednesday ahead of much-needed rain moving into the area Thursday.A trio of fires burning in St.Louis and Lake counties have scorched tens of thousands of acres, and evacuations remain in effect.Minnesota Gov.
Tim Walz activated the state’s National Guard on Monday to help with fire suppression.The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has extended an Air Quality Alert for most of northeastern Minnesota through Wednesday.The Jenkins Creek fire has now engulfed more than 20,500 acres and remains uncontained.The fire had consumed an undetermined number of buildings as of Tuesday evening.
The St.Louis County Sheriff said in a social media post that it was too active to determine an accurate number.The Camp House Fire, also known as the Brimson Fire, jumped to nearly 15,000 acres.
Local officials said that the fire has consumed 146 buildings and counting, mostly along Highway 44, which has been shut down in some places.That fire remains uncontained as well.A third fire in the area, the Munger Shaw Fire, also called the Three Lakes Fire, has burned 1,700 acres, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Buildings have also been destroyed in the Munger Shaw Fire, but the sheriff said the number is undetermined. Fire Weather Warnings were posted for most of Minnesota outside of Minneapolis, as well as the eastern half of the Dakotas on Tuesday.It will be a busy several days for western Minnesota and the northern Plains as wildfire relief will come in the form of severe weather and a flash flood threat.According to the FOX Forecast Center, the heat will depart Wednesday afternoon, as a strong upper-level disturbance emerges from the West.This disturbance will set the stage for a...