BARNUM — Wildland firefighters and aircraft are battling a large wildfire southeast of Barnum.
Emergency personnel in Carlton County responded to the fire about 5:30 p.m. Monday night, Sept. 4, and found it quickly growing and threatening nearby structures.
The fire is estimated to be 40 to 70 acres in size and covers a marshland area.
Leanne Langeberg of the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center said air support continues along with firefighters on the ground from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and four area departments: Barnum, Moose Lake, Black Hoof and Carlton.
“Structures do remain threatened, so they're actively engaged, using the resources that can help cool and slow down the active fire so that the ground resources can continue to engage and establish control lines,” Langeberg said.
No evacuations have been ordered and no road closures are in effect, but travelers along county roads 8 and 11 southeast of Barnum are reminded to slow down to ensure the safety of the firefighters.
With storms possible in the area Tuesday night and Wednesday, the rain will likely not be enough to put the fire out. Langeberg said it would take at least an inch and probably more to make an impact.
Carlton County is within a swath of north-central and northeastern Minnesota facing extreme drought conditions, based on the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Langeberg said humans are almost always the cause of wildfires and people should take extra care when It's so dry and windy outside.
“So this is just an awareness, if you will, of the potential for a wildfire to catch and carry and how quickly that can happen,” she said.
