Large Wildfire in Minnesota Imperils Homes, Fouls Air in Region

U.S.|A ample wildfire successful drought-seared Minnesota threatens homes and recreation sites.

• Aug. 26, 2021, 1:47 p.m. ET

A fast-moving wildfire successful the parched woodlands of northeastern Minnesota threatened cabins, homes and recreational sites connected Thursday arsenic hundreds of firefighters fought to incorporate it.

The Greenwood fire, successful the Superior National Forest not acold from the Canadian border, has burned astir 25,000 acres since it began connected Aug. 15, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The occurrence was started by lightning, the authorities said.

Evacuation orders are successful effect for respective areas including McDougal Lake, Sand Lake, and areas on Highway 2 and northbound of Highway 1. The occurrence destroyed 12 superior structures and 57 outbuildings earlier this week, the Lake County Sheriff’s bureau said. Crews utilized dense machinery connected Wednesday to physique a occurrence enactment on the portion of the occurrence to the westbound of Highway 2.

The Greenwood occurrence and others successful the portion are causing air-quality problems crossed a wide area, according to the National Weather Service.

“Smoke from the Greenwood occurrence successful northeast Minnesota and fires successful Ontario`s Quetico Provincial Park is presently impacting bluish Wisconsin and is expected to dilatory dispersed east-southeast today,” the work said connected Thursday, adding that children, older adults and radical with respiratory oregon cardiac issues should debar each strenuous outdoor activities successful the affected area.

“Keep windows closed and bounds extracurricular activities,” the National Weather Service said successful a tweet.

Rain showers and thunderstorms were expected to determination into the portion connected Thursday and proceed connected and disconnected passim the weekend, the Weather Service said.

Though Minnesota is dotted with lakes, terrible to exceptional drought conditions related to clime alteration person ravaged overmuch of the authorities this summer, arsenic they person successful areas across the Northern Plains and Western United States, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Drought restrictions were imposed successful parts of Minnesota past week, limiting oregon banning activities similar lawn watering.