Gov. Tim Walz says wildfire relief package likely to wait until 2027 session

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Wednesday he does not expect lawmakers to return for a special legislative session to consider wildfire relief for northern Minnesota businesses, saying any state assistance package will more likely be considered during the regular legislative session beginning in January.

Speaking during a press briefing on the state’s wildfire response, Walz said he recognizes the financial strain many businesses have faced after wildfire-related closures disrupted the peak summer tourism season.

“I would encourage the legislature to right now start working on a package of relief for the area,” Walz said. “We certainly can get that ready, and as we assess the damage over time.”

Walz said that while he is open to a special session if lawmakers can reach an agreement, it is unlikely.

“I would just not want to set expectations too high. I think it would be a pretty heavy political lift at this point in time,” Walz said, citing the ongoing election season.

He said, “I think more than likely this will be a regular session event that happens in January.”

The summer season is critical for many seasonal businesses across northern Minnesota, including in Cook County, as they rely on revenue from the busy summer months to sustain operations year-round. Over the past several weeks, wildfire-related impacts — including Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness closures, evacuation alerts and periods of heavy smoke have affected tourism and created significant economic challenges for businesses across the region.

Sen. Grant Hauschild and Rep. Roger Skraba, along with other local and state leaders, have recently hosted roundtable discussions in Ely and Cook County to hear directly from lodge owners, outfitters and other business owners about the economic impacts of the wildfire-related closures and disruptions.

In Cook County, several entities are working together to collect stories and financial data from businesses affected by the wildfires and BWCAW closures. The Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority is partnering with county officials, Visit Cook County, and the Cook County Chamber of Commerce to compile data to share with Hauschild, Skraba, and other state leaders to advocate for state assistance.

In a previous interview with WTIP, EDA Director Lucas Wakefield said he encourages business owners who have experienced financial losses to submit information through the EDA’s website or contact the office directly. He said documenting those impacts now will help local leaders make the case for assistance from state lawmakers and potentially federal funding sources. Businesses can send an email to: director@cookcountymneda.org

On Wednesday, the governor also announced that Minnesota’s peacetime emergency related to this summer’s wildfires is expected to expire Tuesday, Aug. 11.

“The wind down of the peacetime emergency will happen. It will expire on next Tuesday. There’ll be no need to re-up that,” Walz said.

The emergency declaration, issued in July, allowed the state to mobilize additional resources as multiple lightning-caused wildfires burned across northeastern Minnesota.

Walz emphasized that allowing the emergency declaration to expire does not mean the state is ending its wildfire response. If conditions worsen, he said, a new peacetime emergency can be declared.

Mike Warnke of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Walz said on Wednesday that while fire danger conditions have improved, they urged Minnesotans to continue using caution with campfires and other potential fire sources.

The majority of the wildfires that spread across northern Minnesota and within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in July started from lightning strikes. In total, the Forest Service estimates that wildfires have burned nearly 75,000 acres, including those in the U.S. and those that crossed over the border into Canada.

To date, no structures have been lost.

At the peak of the July wildfire response in northern Minnesota, Warnke said there were 2,400 firefighting personnel designated to response efforts.

In a Tuesday press briefing, Forest Service officials said that over 400 firefighters who assisted with the response from various states underwent canoe safety training before being deployed to remote areas of the state and the BWCAW.

Video of the Wednesday, August 5 press briefing with Gov. Walz and state officials is below.

Kalli Hawkins August 5, 2026