The largest of the three wildfires burning in northeastern Minnesota was likely caused by people.
In an update Wednesday, the U.S. Forest Service’s Eastern Area Incident Management Team said the initial investigation into the nearly 17,000-acre Jenkins Creek Fire, which started May 12, shows “the fire is related to a human cause.” The update offered no other details but said the investigation is ongoing. The fire southeast of Hoyt Lakes was rated as 13% contained.
The causes of the 12,000-acre Camp House Fire and 1,259-acre Munger Shaw Fire remain “undetermined,” according to the Wildfire Incident Information System. The Camp House blaze broke out May 11 near Brimson and the Munger Shaw started May 12 near Cotton.
Meanwhile, several evacuation orders are being lifted.
In St. Louis County, 13 evacuation zones in “go” status were improved to “set” status Tuesday, the sheriff’s office reported on Facebook.
St. Louis County Highway 33 and County Road 110/Forest Highway 11 also reopened to traffic at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
“Property owners are urged to take extra caution in the area,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post Tuesday night. “Be aware that the burned areas may still show smoke from various stumps and debris — this is not of concern when inside the already burned area. However, if smoke or flames are found outside the already burned area or anywhere it is clearly a hazard, please call 911.”
In Lake County, the only active evacuation zone remaining is the Murphy Lake Road area, Matt Pollmann, the county’s emergency management director, said in a Facebook video Tuesday night.
“Containment is over 40%, so they are feeling confident with the Camp House Fire,” he said.
Significant progress was made in containing the perimeter of the Camp House Fire to 73%, the Eastern Area Complex Incident Management Team reported Wednesday morning.
Cooler, wetter weather has helped firefighters. The blazes started during a period of critical wildfire weather.
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