Stewart Trail Fire containment increases as officials determine cause was power line
Updated 4:47 p.m.
With recent precipitation and continued wildfire response activity, containment of the Stewart Trail Fire north of Two Harbors has grown to 62% as of Sunday evening.
Fire crews made notable progress over the weekend in securing containment lines and reducing fire activity within the interior of the fire perimeter, officials with the Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) said.
The wildfire, which has burned 355 acres and destroyed 34 structures, was determined to be caused by a power line, MNICS said on Monday.
As of Monday morning, Highway 61 remains closed between Stewart River and the Silver Creek Tunnel. A detour remains in place between Silver Bay and Two Harbors. Find the latest information and road updates on http://511mn.org.
Firefighters are continuing to patrol and grid the interior fire area, looking for pockets of heat to extinguish. Given the increased containment and suppression efforts, Lake County officials have reduced the evacuation zones where public safety threats have diminished. Current evacuation information can be referenced on the Lake County Fire Evacuation | Lake County Atlas Parcel.
Lake County officials will begin escorted access for property owners within the evacuation area between the Stewart River and the Silver Creek Tunnel on Monday from 2 to 5 p.m.
Check-in will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Betty’s Pies parking lot staging area. Learn more on the Lake County website here.
On Monday, Governor Tim Walz traveled to Two Harbors to survey damage caused by the Stewart Trail Fire and meet with wildfire crews, local officials, first responders, and impacted residents.
“Being here in Two Harbors, I’m grateful for the progress first responders have made to contain these fires and protect lives,” said Gov. Walz. “These fires have disrupted communities and forced evacuations, but the coordinated response across local, state, and federal partners has made a real difference. We will continue to support these communities as response efforts continue and recovery begins. I want to thank the firefighters, National Guard members, and first responders working around the clock to keep Minnesotans safe.”
Gov. Tim Walz and local and state officials in Stewart Trail Fire briefing in Two Harbors | Contributed by Office of Gov. Tim Walz
On Sunday, May 17, Gov. Walz declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the Minnesota National Guard, along with additional state resources to support wildfire response efforts across northern Minnesota. The National Guard is assisting with wildfire suppression and emergency response operations in coordination with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center, and other state and local agencies.
Areas across northern Minnesota received precipitation Sunday evening and early Monday morning. Temperatures hover in the mid-40s on Monday with relative humidity at 80%, according to MNICS fire officials. Continued precipitation is expected to continue Monday evening with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
WTIP spoke with Joe Moore, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service on Monday, May 18 about coordination with fire officials during a wildfire and the week’s forecast. Audio below.
Kalli Hawkins May 18, 2026
