Governor Tim Walz has declared a peacetime emergency and ordered the Minnesota National Guard to respond to an ongoing fire outbreak in the state’s northern border with Canada after wildfires hit the state’s northern border with Canada and have spread into the northern part of Minnesota and threatened forests, wildlife and communities.
The emergency declaration came as burning fires still burn across the Superior National Forest in the area of Minnesota’s most popular outdoor recreation terrain, where officials say the blazes have already scorched more than 800 acres in the past five days. Fire officials confirmed that so far none of the big fires had been fully contained, and that hot and dry weather conditions could allow flames to spread further.
Governor Walz announced on social media the National Guard would assist emergency responders battling the fires in northern Minnesota.
"I've declared a peacetime emergency and mobilised the National Guard to assist with wildfire response in northern Minnesota," Walz wrote on X.
He praised firefighters, emergency workers and first responders for working around the clock to protect people and contain the threat.
But the state authorities said 17 separate fires are currently burning in Superior National Forest, an area of about 150,000 visitors a year. Park rangers had to escort campers and visitors out of the affected areas over the weekend while emergency crews worked to ensure firefighting continues.
A Red Flag warning for the region is also in place and weather conditions are very favorable for fast fire spreading.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said high temperatures and extremely dry conditions magnified the fire risk and made containment efforts more difficult. Strong winds and low humidity also complicated operations and firefighters are on high alert as they battle to prevent more flare-ups.
The National Guard will provide logistical support, personnel, and resources to support local and state firefighting teams as the emergency response continues, officials said.
The Minnesota fires are part of a bigger wave of wildfires hitting nearly every corner of the United States this summer. Longer-term heat, dry vegetation and persistent drought conditions have created just the right conditions for fast-moving fires in many parts of the country.
And Southern California is also battling a major fire that burned nearly 2,700 acres on Saturday, prompting evacuation orders as a dangerous heatwave swept over the region.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the state has recorded 2,584 wildfires so far this year. Fires have burned about 79,690 acres, destroyed 25 structures and forced several communities to evacuate. There have been no deaths among the California wildfires.
Fire officials in the U.S. say the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires is a result of persistent drought, rising temperatures, dry vegetation and weather patterns from El Niño, which set the stage for fires to start and spread so quickly.
Emergency officials in Minnesota and California say they are advising residents and visitors to be watchful and to heed evacuation orders and be alert and avoid any actions that can start new fires accidentally. With weather forecasts predicting continued hot and dry weather, fire danger is expected to be elevated now and in the days to come.
