2026 Minnesota wildfires

2026 Minnesota wildfires
The Thumb Fire on July 11
Statistics
Total fires16[1]
Total area~74,956[2]
Impacts
Deaths1[3]
← 2025

A series of wildfires have been burning throughout the U.S. state of Minnesota. Minnesota is currently under a peacetime state of emergency regarding the fires. The state of emergency is expended to continue into mid-september of 2026.[4][5] As of July 20, 2026, at least 8,000 people had been evacuated.[6]

The Minnesota fires, combined the 2026 Canadian wildfires have contributed to a day of widespread air quality issues across the Great Lakes region and northern United States into New England.[7] The wildfires and conditions themselves across the region were said to be "unprecedented" by meteorologists and local firefighting agencies.[8]

Background

Minnesota drought monitor on July 7

While "fire season" varies every year in Minnesota, most wildfires occur in April and May. On average, over 1,500 wildfires occur each year, and 75% of those occur in those months. However, there is another small peak in fall. This happens when snow melts, so vegetation begins to dry out, and more dry and windy conditions lead to more fire activity. While precipitation can moisten vegetation, it quickly dries up within an hour. Dry winters can make vegetation much more vulnerable to wildfires.[9][10][11]

State of Emergency

On July 15, 2026, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Sarah Strommen announced that 17 fires were active, and 55,000 acres had been burned.[4] The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert the same day, as smoke from the fires spread. An AQI for particulate matter was recorded as high as 617. The maximum normal AQI is 66 and below. The air quality alert remained in effect in much Northern and Eastern Minnesota throughout all of July.[12][13] On the evening of July 16, 2026, Duluth recorded an AQI of 1030.[14] Effected areas, such as the Boundary Waters, were quickly evacuated and closed to the public.

On July 17, 2026, the Bear Trap fire reached about one mile from public and private buildings, homes, and infrastructure. The Minnesota National Guard is one of multiple organizations fighting the fire. Priority had been forced to shift away from the Thumb fire due to resource constraints.[5] Two new fires were also detected that same day due to over 13,000 lightning strikes from widespread thunderstorm activity, and despite dropping noticeable rain on the fire perimeters, the fires kept raging on.[15][16] The amount of acres burned also increased by 22,000 in only one day, now reported at greater than 77,000 acres burnt.[17] At that time, it was estimated between 6,000 and 10,000 people have been evacuated.[17]

Wildfire Smoke Intensity, July 17, 2026

As of July 18, 2026, efforts to stop the spread of the Bear Trap fire have been successful in temporarily stopping the fire's spread.[18] On July 20, 2026, it was reported that no new fires had started after a storm.[6] Due to improved weather, the spread of the fires was slowed, and some control lines have been set up, although containment continues to prove difficult. The fires have been found to be burning as deep as 20-30 feet underground, which further hinders attempts at containment.[19]

By July 23, 2026, more than 1,000 emergency personnel were involved in the firefighting. Rain has been able to slow the spread of the fires. Full containment was reported for all ten minor fires.[20] Heavy rain on July 30-31 brought relief, along with concerns that lightning may have started new fires.[13] The United States Forest Service announced that limited public access to about 40% of the Boundary waters would begin on July 30. Superior National Forest also re-opened to visitors.[21] On August 5, more of the Boundary waters was reopened, bringing the open areas to now cover two-thirds of the wilderness area. Continued rain was able to slow and calm the fires, however as little as five days without rain would be enough to bring the fires back into a much more dangerous state.[22] On August 11, Alaskan firefighter Leslie R. Washington died while fighting the Bear Trap fire, becoming the first (and so far, the only) fatality. Governor Tim Walz ordered flags to be flown at half-mast in his honor.[3]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date[a] Notes Ref.
Lone Pine Becker 1,500 April 22 April 27 Undetermined cause. Burned in Callaway. [24][25]
Flanders Crow Wing 1,685 May 16 May 20 Caused by a campfire. Prompted evacuations in Mission. Damaged several houses and destroyed several outbuildings. [26][27]
Thumb St. Louis, Ontario (CA) 25,015[b] July 7
55%
 Lightning-caused. Burning in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), closing the area and prompting evacuations. Merged with the Wolfpack Fire on August 15. [20][28][29][30]
Camp Lake 4,357 July 7
97%
 Lightning-caused. Burning northeast of Ely and prompting evacuations. [31][29][32]
Bear Trap St. Louis, Lake, Ontario (CA) 30,804[b] July 7
64%
 Lightning-caused. Burning 20 miles (32 km) north of Ely in BCWAW. Prompting evacuations and merged with the Dark Fire on July 12. One fatality. [20][33][29][34][3]
Sioux St. Louis 6,833 July 9
76%
 Lightning-caused. Burning east of Jeanette Campground. Partially closing Echo Trail, prompting evacuations, and threatening structures. [35][29][36]
Little Knife Lake, Ontario (CA) 86,000[b] July 12
90%
 Lightning-caused. Includes two merged fires. Crossed over from Canada. [37][29]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out.[23]
  2. 1 2 3 Includes area burned in Canada.

References

  1. ↑ "Wednesday, July 22, 2026". Little Falls Radio.
  2. ↑ "BWCA closure extended and air quality alert in effect across Minnesota as wildfires continue". Red Lake Nation Views. July 20, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Flags in Minnesota to fly at half-staff for firefighter who died while fighting wildfires". KSTP. August 13, 2026.
  4. 1 2 McNamee, Emma (July 15, 2026). "Minnesota extends wildfire emergency declaration". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Bettin, Anthony; Lentz, Nick (July 17, 2026). "Northern Minnesota wildfires burning close to homes, cabins and resorts". CBS News.
  6. 1 2 Sepic, Matt (July 20, 2026). "'More fire season ahead' as crews battle flames and residents wait with bags packed". MPR News.
  7. ↑ español, PHILIP MARCELO Leer en (July 17, 2026). "Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota pushes farther into the US and engulfs DC in haze". AP News. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  8. ↑ Skluzacek, Josh (July 17, 2026). "Wildfires latest: Conditions 'unprecedented' for Minnesota, over 77,000 acres burned". KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  9. ↑ Hart, Jessica (March 28, 2025). "DNR says the most wildfires in MN happen in the spring". KARE. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  10. ↑ Buffington, Megan (March 8, 2024). "Dry winter sparks early spring fire season in Minnesota". KAXE. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  11. ↑ Livingston, Ian (May 14, 2025). "Several wildfires are burning in Minnesota, fueled by hot and dry conditions". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  12. ↑ Uren, Adam (July 15, 2026). "Worst air quality in state history: Officials escalate conditions to 'hazardous' in Twin Cities, central MN". Bring Me The News. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  13. 1 2 Baxter, Annie; Schaper, David (July 31, 2026). "Northern Minnesota July lightning fires nearly 60 percent contained, crews watch for new starts". MPR News.
  14. ↑ "Current air quality conditions". Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Archived from the original on July 17, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Storm brought rain to wildfire hit area of Minnesota, but also over 13,000 lightning strikes". July 17, 2026.
  16. ↑ McConico, Matt (July 17, 2026). "13,000 lightning strikes over wildfire areas from Thursday to Friday". Fox21Online. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  17. 1 2 "Wildfires latest: Conditions 'unprecedented' for Minnesota, over 77,000 acres burned". KSTP. July 17, 2026.
  18. ↑ "LIVE UPDATES: National Guard details firefighting approach". Duluth News Tribune. July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  19. ↑ Kraker, Dan (July 20, 2026). "Over a dozen wildfires are still burning in Superior National Forest and BWCA". MPR News.
  20. 1 2 3 Przytarski, Jake (July 23, 2026). "More than 1,000 emergency personnel fighting wildfires in northern Minnesota". Twin Cities Pioneer Press.
  21. ↑ Kraker, Dan (July 30, 2026). "Forest Service to open more of the Boundary Waters to canoeing as wildfire concerns ease". MPR news.
  22. ↑ Yang, Hannah (August 4, 2026). "Rain helps contain wildfires so more of the BWCA will reopen, but fires burn on". MPR News.
  23. ↑ "What containment and other wildfire related terms mean". KCAL-TV. September 12, 2024. Archived from the original on February 9, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Lone Pine Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Lone Pine - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.sctimes.com. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Flanders Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  27. ↑ Marohn, Kirsti (May 20, 2026). "DNR identifies starting location, people of interest connected to Flanders Fire". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Thumb Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 "July 2026 Superior NF Wildfires Information". InciWeb. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  30. ↑ Griswold, David (July 13, 2026). "Fire in Boundary Waters grows to 6,500 acres". KARE. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Camp Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  32. ↑ Krueger, Andrew (July 14, 2026). "Evacuation orders expanded for wildfire burning northeast of Ely". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Bear Trap Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  34. ↑ Morrel, Lydia (July 14, 2026). "Two wildfires spread from BWCAW to Canada". KARE. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Sioux Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  36. ↑ Donovan, Larissa; Buffington, Megan (July 14, 2026). "Parts of Echo Trail, Fernberg Corridor evacuated as fires explode in SNF". KAXE. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Little Knife Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
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