UPDATE: The Brimson Complex Fire grows to 34,000 acres

Latest Update from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Wednesday, May 14 at 6:45 p.m.

CAMP HOUSE FIRE: has grown slightly to approximately 14,000 acres and 0% contained. Fire crews from multiple agencies continue to battle the fire. Evacuation in the Camp House Fire zones is still in effect. 

Authorities say current road closures remain at Hwy 44 and the Rollins Road heading North and from Townline Road heading South. The number of destroyed structures remain at 140.

JENKINS CREEK FIRE: has grown to 20,593 acres and 0% contained. There are current road closures on Townline Road at Forest Hwy 11 along with Forest Hwy 11 at Mooseline Road near Hoyt Lakes.

RELATED STORY: Additional evacuation order issued for Munger Shaw fire

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The MNICS Incident Management Team C has transitioned the management of the Camp House Fire and the Jenkins Creek Fire to the Eastern Area Complex Incident Management Team.

Sheriff Gordon Ramsay gave a quick update just before noon on Wednesday for what is now being called the Brimson Complex Fire, that includes both the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires.

Sheriff Ramsay says the fire is burning primarily in the wilderness and crews are watching it closely. As of noon, he said 146 structures have been burned and that number will increase.

He says the Brimson Camp House fire has not crossed Hwy 16 or E Town Line Road as expected.

“It did creep into Lake County in the last 24 hours,” Ramsay said. “In the area of Bassett and Cadotte Lake, the fire has moved about 6th tenths of a mile (since yesterday.) It also moved west from Highway 44 up to a mile in the Brimson Road area and just north of the Brimson Road and has moved toward the Ault Town Hall.”

He continued that evacuations for the two fires remain the same at this time, but that that is subject to change at any time.

Ramsay said that authorities have been in contact with the National Weather Service and said that lighting is now a concern going into Thursday, May 15. Lighting could start between 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Thursday.

Sheriff Ramsay also took the time to thank those who have supported efforts so far, but also looked ahead to the work that still needs to be done.

“We want to thank all of our public safety responders,” he said. “Our communities have been overwhelming in providing support for them with water and food and, actually, it’s kind of overwhelming how much people have given. The help really will need to come down the road for the people that have lost their homes, so keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”

MUNGER SHAW FIRE: 1,600 acres and 0% contained. The MNICS Incident Management Team A took over the management of the fire at noon Wednesday. There are road closures in the following locations.  Three Lakes Road at Winkle Lane (no East bound traffic) and Three Lakes Road at Rush Lake Grade (no West bound traffic) is closed. Munger Shaw Road is closed at Comstock Lake Road . (no South bound traffic)

The cause for all three fires remains under investigation.

Evacuations and Road Closures: St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office Divisions of Emergency Management and 911 have a website hub with evacuation and other fire information and Ready-Set-Go map. St. Louis County has closed eastbound Highway 16 at the Camp 26 Trail Track and County Hwy 44 is blocked for northbound traffic. (Highway 55 is still open.) Eastbound Highway 16 and southbound Brimson-Toimi Rd/6205 Rd are closed at that intersection. County Rd. 110 (Hwy 11) is blocked outside Hoyt Lakes at Moose Line. Eastbound Forest Rte. 129 is blocked at Moose Line.

Fire Closure Order for Superior National Forest: Fire Closure Order Superior National Forest: Due to the “Brimson Complex” fires on the Superior National Forest (SNF), Forest Supervisor Tom Hall has closed a portion of the Laurentian Ranger District with an Emergency Forest Order 09-09-25-05 Closure is effective as of May 13, 12:00 pm CT. The closure prohibits visitor entry at campsites, recreation sites, trails, roads and lakes.  See Forest Order Exhibit A for a list of closure areas and Exhibit B for a map of the area.  The closure may be modified or extended as conditions allow.

As of Wednesday, May 14, the Incident Management Team is transitioning to a new contact number for the public to use, 218-206-6805. The hours for fire information are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Evacuations are still in effect for the Camp House, Jenkins Creek, and Munger Shaw fires. The most up to date map for evacuations can be found here.

RELATED STORIES: Authorities say there are suspects in Camp House Fire

Authorities said Tuesday evening that there are suspects in the Camp House Fire, and that the Minnesota DNR is leading the case. WDIO has reached out for additional information, but have not received additional information from the DNR at this time.

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office reports the road closure on Hwy 44 from Rollins Road, at Hugo’s Bar, to Townline Road remains in effect.