Massive Minnesota wildfires consume over 32,000 acres as National Guard assists fight
A trio of fires burning in St. Louis and Lake counties have scorched tens of thousands of acres, and evacuations remain in effect. Much-needed rain moves into the region on Thursday.
Northern Minnesota wildfires destroy homes, cabins
After days of unseasonably high temperatures and low humidity, relentless wildfires have continued to rapidly grow across parts of northeastern Minnesota north of Lake Superior, destroying dozens of homes and buildings.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. – After days of unseasonably high temperatures and low humidity, relentless wildfires have continued to rapidly grow across parts of northeastern Minnesota north of Lake Superior, destroying dozens of homes and buildings.
Minnesota wildfires rage, impacting air quality
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.
A trio of fires burning in St. Louis and Lake counties have scorched tens of thousands of acres, and evacuations remain in effect. The cause of all three fires remains under investigation as the state's National Guard helps with fire suppression.
TEXAS HEAT TO SURPASS SWELTERING US DESERTS AS TRIPLE-DIGIT TEMPERATURES REACH HISTORIC LEVELS
![A trio of fires burning in St. Louis and Lake counties in Minnesota have scorched tens of thousands of acres and prompted evacuations.]()
Image 1 of 5A trio of fires burning in St. Louis and Lake counties in Minnesota have scorched tens of thousands of acres and prompted evacuations. (KMSP)
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Image 2 of 5A trio of fires burning in St. Louis and Lake counties in Minnesota have scorched tens of thousands of acres and prompted evacuations. (KMSP)
![A trio of fires burning in St. Louis and Lake counties in Minnesota have scorched tens of thousands of acres and prompted evacuations.]()
Image 3 of 5A trio of fires burning in St. Louis and Lake counties in Minnesota have scorched tens of thousands of acres and prompted evacuations. (KMSP)
![A trio of fires burning in St. Louis and Lake counties in Minnesota have scorched tens of thousands of acres and prompted evacuations.]()
Image 4 of 5A trio of fires burning in St. Louis and Lake counties in Minnesota have scorched tens of thousands of acres and prompted evacuations. (KMSP)
![A trio of fires burning in St. Louis and Lake counties in Minnesota have scorched tens of thousands of acres and prompted evacuations.]()
Image 5 of 5A trio of fires burning in St. Louis and Lake counties in Minnesota have scorched tens of thousands of acres and prompted evacuations. (FOX Weather)
Air quality alert extended through Thursday for northeastern Minnesota
The Jenkins Creek Fire has engulfed more than 15,500 acres and remains uncontained, according to the Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS). The fire had consumed an undetermined number of buildings as of Thursday morning. The St. Louis County Sheriff said in a social media post that the fire was too active to determine an accurate number.
The Camp House Fire, also known as the Brimson Fire, jumped to nearly 15,000 acres, MNICS reported. Local officials said the fire has consumed nearly 150 buildings, 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 1,600 acres, according to MNICS. The Munger Shaw Fire has also destroyed buildings, but the sheriff said the number is undetermined.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency extended an air quality alert for most of northeastern Minnesota through Thursday.
OLYMPIC SWIMMER PRESENTED REPLACEMENT MEDALS FOLLOWING LOSS IN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE
Minnesota wildfires destroy homes, scorch tens of thousands of acres
Wildfires have exploded in size across parts of northeastern Minnesota north of Lake Superior, destroying at least 40 homes and buildings, as unseasonably high temperatures and low humidity will continue to drive dangerous fire weather on Tuesday (Video Credit: KMSP).
Severe weather set to blow through Minnesota on Thursday
It will be a busy several days for western Minnesota and the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, as wildfire relief will come in the form of severe weather and a flash flood threat.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, a strong upper-level disturbance emerging from the West will set the stage for a severe weather event across parts of Minnesota from Thursday afternoon into Thursday night.
(FOX Weather)
The most meaningful rain will be to the west of the areas currently battling wildfires, but showers and thunderstorms will still bring some overall relief to the region. A strong severe weather threat looms for central and southern Minnesota on Thursday, with NOAA's Storm Prediction Center issuing Level 2 and 3 risks across the heart of the state, with dangers of strong tornadoes, large hail and damaging wind gusts.
The areas north of Duluth, where the largest fires are burning, are north of the main severe weather threat zone but are still at risk of strong to severe thunderstorms.
Flood threat expands into eastern Dakotas, Minnesota by Thursday
The backside of the cold front that will bring severe storms will also provide much-needed rain to areas being scorched by wildfires.
This graphic shows the expected rain for the northern Plains through Friday, May 16, 2025.
(FOX Weather)
A prolonged period of moderate rain is expected, but a corridor of heavier rain is expected to shift into eastern North Dakota and northern Minnesota on Thursday. NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat for parts of North and South Dakota on Thursday.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the name of the Jenkins Creek Fire.