Updated as of 5:05 p.m. Monday, May 12. Find our latest reporting here.
BRIMSON — A rural St. Louis County wildfire has burned 1,250 acres since it began Sunday, May 11, and is 0% contained as of 5 p.m. Monday.
The Camp House Fire was reported around 1 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of Brimson and Camphouse roads, north of Brimson near the Lake County border, according to a news release from the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office. The fire has spread northeast into the Superior National Forest.
Several dozen residents were evacuated Sunday evening as the fire rapidly spread to 160 acres in just a few hours.
The sheriff's office said over 50 houses and cabins have been evacuated as of 11:30 a.m. Monday; evacuation orders remain in effect, and displaced residents should make arrangements for another night away.
St. Louis County expanded its evacuation order Monday afternoon, and Lake County announced just before 3 p.m. that it is evacuating Langley River and Murphy Lake roads.
Residents on the west side of Highway 44 from Indian Lake to Breda Lake should evacuate south, according to a PBS WARN alert. The Fredenberg Community Center will serve as a temporary evacuation collection point.
Other parts of St. Louis and Lake counties around the fire are at preliminary evacuation levels.
At Set status, residents should be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice. At Ready status, residents should follow local alerts and begin preparing for potential evacuation.
An estimated three houses have burned down.
Due to many hot spots and flare-ups making the area unsafe, the sheriff's office said Highway 44 between Indian Creek Road and Brimson Road, north of Hugo's Bar, is closed to all traffic until further notice.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Minnesota Incident Command System, the state's interagency wildfire response group, said firefighters are using full suppression tactics through air and ground resources and heavy equipment, while protecting threatened structures on the perimeter.
Firefighters are preparing for another active fire day and will continue building fire lines and working toward containment.
The fire is burning in mixed forest with a large quantity of spruce budworm-infested stands, according to MNICS.
A red flag warning is in effect until 9 p.m. due to high temps, low humidity and gusty winds.
During a red flag warning, people should avoid activities that could spark a wildfire. Keep vehicles off dry grass, avoid activities and equipment with open flames or sparks, properly discard cigarettes and obey burn bans.
MNICS said ongoing daily fire updates will be released around 11 a.m.
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