Walz activates National Guard to help fight Minnesota wildfires

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz authorized Minnesota National Guard support Sunday night for wildfires currently burning across Superior National Forest.

The announcement comes as a collection of cabin and home owners near the McDougal Lake area in Lake County are being evacuated due to a wildfire near Isabella. There are also multiple fires burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness at this time.

There was no immediate word from the governor’s office regarding which fire the National Guard will be heading toward or when they will arrive to the region.

Superior National Forest officials on Sunday night reported a wildfire burning about 15 miles south of Isabella in nearby Lake County. The fire was detected yesterday afternoon and spread to more than 200 acres by Sunday night, according to the US Forest Service. As of last night, the fire was ‘moving quickly,’ according to the Forest Service.

Joe Friedrichs August 16, 2021