Fire crews were working from the ground and the air Friday afternoon to contain a wildfire that prompted a highway closure on the Iron Range, near Gilbert — one of at least three wildfires burning in northeast Minnesota.
As of mid-afternoon, the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center estimated the fire at 25 acres in size. State Highway 135 was closed between Gilbert and Virginia, and authorities were asking people to stay away from the area.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service were working with local fire departments to contain the fire. There was no immediate word on what caused the fire, or whether any buildings had been damaged.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation reported that other fires Friday afternoon prompted the closure of Highway 61 just northeast of Two Harbors, and Highway 33 north of Cloquet. Find updates on highway closures on MnDOT’s 511 website.
The fires started on another day of warm, dry, windy conditions across Minnesota. West winds were gusting to more than 35 mph Friday afternoon at the Eveleth-Virginia Airport — with humidity of less than 20 percent.
Red flag warnings for dangerous wildfire conditions were in effect for most of Minnesota through Friday night, with the DNR warning earlier in the day of the potential for fires to “spread quickly and grow out of control.”
The DNR said this week that amid the elevated fire danger, additional wildland firefighting crews from Ontario and Manitoba were in Minnesota to assist local crews — part of an agreement called the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact.
“Their presence reflects the value of long-standing partnerships and a shared commitment to helping one another during periods of increased wildfire potential,” the DNR said.
