UPDATE as of 5/20/2025 at 5:30 P.M.

The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution on Tuesday, May 20, declaring a State of Local Emergency and State of Local Disaster in St. Louis County. The motion was made by Commissioner Grimm and was seconded by Commissioner Jugovich.

This resolution is a formal request for state public disaster assistance for any eligible wildfire response and recovery activities (personnel, rebuilding, equipment, etc.).

St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay briefed the board on the current situation regarding the wildfires, and also highlighted some of the ways that public disaster funding would help alleviate the expense burden of these operations.

“It helps government entities as well as potentially property owners. Now there is no guarantees, but there are emergency funds for people potentially that have lost some property or reimbursement for the county for the guardrails for our deputies’ time at evacuation points or doing evacuations or check points,” said Sheriff Ramsay.

There is no timetable yet for when funds could make their way down the ladder, and Sheriff Ramsay noted that this is still an ongoing fight to contain these fires.

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St. Louis County Board Chair Annie Harala has signed a Declaration of State of Local Emergency and State of Local Disaster for St. Louis County on Monday, April 19. This comes eight days after the Camp House fire began on Sunday, May 11, and one week after the Jenkins Creek and Munger Shaw Fires began.

To date, the tree wildfires have burned more than 30,000 acres in the county and destroyed more than 150 structures.

“The declaration is a procedural step as part of the state’s process for counties to request state public disaster assistance for wildfire response and recovery activities,” explained County Communications Manager Dana Kazel. “The declaration by the Board Chair is valid for up to three days until the County Board can gather and vote on a declaration.”

An emergency board meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 20, at 9 a.m. in the County Board room at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth. During the meeting, Sheriff Gordon Ramsay will also update commissioners on wildfire activities.

RELATED STORIES: Jenkins Fire now 6% contained in Monday’s Brimson Complex update

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Emergency Management division is currently working with affected municipalities to conduct a Damage and Impact Assessment Report. This will be submitted to the Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) to determine eligibility for state public disaster assistance.