Stewart Trail Fire 30% contained, 34 structures destroyed as fire response continues near Two Harbors
Fire crews and emergency officials in Lake County continued working over the weekend to contain the Stewart Trail Fire north of Two Harbors.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Stewart Trail Fire is 30% contained, and after additional assessments, fire officials have updated the wildfire size to 355 acres.
At a Saturday evening news conference, Lake County officials said damage assessments have been completed and confirmed that the fire has destroyed 34 structures, eight of which were “primary” structures and 26 are outbuildings.
Lake County Sheriff Nathan Stadler said law enforcement has begun notifying property owners who have lost their homes or have had property destroyed. Stadler said that, for safety reasons and given the ongoing wildfire response, property owners are not yet being allowed back on the property.
Burned area from Stewart Trail Fire near Two Harbors | Photo by Chuck Olsen for MPR News
“We know that this situation is stressful for residents, visitors, everybody involved — and our teams are working around the clock to keep people safe,” Stadler said at the news conference. “Just please be patient. The crews are doing the best they can. They’re working hard to get this fire under control, get the area safe, so that people can get back into their properties.”
Stadler said Lake County is greatly appreciative of the wildfire response and mutual aid support from various state and federal agencies.
“I just want to thank all of the agencies that have responded,” Stadler said. “We could not have done this without them.”
Highway 61 is closed and a detour near Silver Bay is in place | Photo by Chuck Olsen for MPR News
Evacuation orders and Highway 61 closures remain in place. Highway 61 is closed at County Highway 2 and at West Castle Danger Road. A detour has been set up from Silver Bay to Two Harbors for those who need to travel around the area.
Lake County officials said they will continue monitoring the wildfire activity on Sunday and reassess closures as needed. One of the safety concerns authorities are monitoring is burned, unstable trees that could fall amid ongoing windy conditions.
Dry and windy conditions continue along the North Shore on Sunday, with temperatures hovering in the mid-40s. Fire officials said burning restrictions remain in effect for Lake County, and burning of large vegetative debris is not allowed.
Fire crews are continuing to strengthen the containment lines on the northern perimeter on Sunday. Structure protection will also continue with crews increasing the area around the structures and removing hotspots within 100 feet of each structure. Aircraft is continuing to provide assistance with water and fire-retardant drops, according to Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS).
Lake County has implemented the Ready, Set, Go evacuation notification plan. Current evacuation information can be found on the Lake County Fire Evacuation | Lake County Atlas Parcel Viewer.
Kalli Hawkins May 17, 2026
