TWO HARBORS — Firefighters succeeded at getting the Stewart Trail Fire perimeter to 100% containment late Monday afternoon, May 18.
A new accurate map of the fire's perimeter increased the fire's size to 356 acres, according to the Minnesota Incident Command System. WTIP reported the wildfire has destroyed 34 structures, and MNICS officials said the fire was caused by a power line.
In a wildland fire, containment refers to the status of suppression of the fire perimeter, where a containment line has been established — such as a hand line dug by firefighters or a dozer line dug by heavy equipment — that can be expected to stop the fire’s spread.
Crews used chain saws to cut down hazard trees and bucked the fallen trunks into smaller sections. Each section was then checked for residual heat, and if any was found, firefighters extinguished it with hoses.
Firefighters contained the buffer to an additional 60 feet into the interior of the entire perimeter to prevent hot spots from reigniting.
Firefighters will continue to patrol and grid the perimeter and interior, systematically searching for pockets of heat to be extinguished and any lingering smoke, working hard to confirm conditions are stable enough for property owners to return to their homes.
On Wednesday morning, the Stewart Trail Fire will be transitioned to a type 4 incident commander with the local Minnesota Department of Natural Resources unit.
Due to impacts from firefighting resources, U.S. Highway 61 is closed between the Stewart River and the Silver Cliff Tunnel. A detour remains between Silver Bay and Two Harbors for those who need to travel around the area. The detour may lift as soon as 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The public is asked to follow the detour around Highway 61 and stay out of the closure area for their safety.
-
Contributed/Wesley Tingey via UnsplashJordan Zempel, 35, of Apple Valley, faces a third-degree criminal sexual conduct charge for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEDaniel Dale of Hoyt Lakes made his first court appearance May 19, 2026, on the upgraded felony charge. He remains in custody in the St. Louis County Jail. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe fire, which began May 16, 2026, burned around 1,666 acres in Crow Wing County. The DNR asks residents and others in the area with information to contact them. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEAbout a half-inch of rain fell across the area overnight into Tuesday, and crews are expected to return to work on securing and improving the fire lines again. -
And: A rural Orr man was arrested for allegedly shooting a firefighting plane; the Legislature passed a bonding bill; and filings open for public office Tuesday. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEIn their final hours before the session ended, lawmakers passed a county hospital bailout, an infrastructure bill and small cuts to car tab fees and property taxes. -
Contributed/Ellen Schmidt / MinnPost / CatchLight Local / Report for AmericaHere’s what made it into the Legislature's infrastructure package and what lawmakers and others had to say about it May 17, 2026. -
Contributed/St. Louis County Sheriff's OfficeFirefighters responded to a wildland fire between Orr and Crane Lake on Friday, May 15, 2026. After returning to the airport, it was learned a bullet appeared to have struck one of the planes. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEEvacuated homeowners will be able to return to their properties for the day, Monday, May 18, 2026. Crow Wing County declared a local emergency, the first step toward state disaster aid. -
This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of May 18.
