Minnesota governor mobilizes National Guard for wildfires

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has activated the state's National Guard to assist in battling a series of wildfires that are raging in the northern region near the Canadian border.

The fires have consumed more than 800 acres over the past five days and are currently uncontained, according to state officials. A total of 16 fires are actively burning within the Superior National Forest, an area that typically draws significant summer tourism. Park rangers have been working to escort visitors out of the affected park areas over the weekend.

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I’ve declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the National Guard to assist with wildfire response in northern Minnesota.

Governor Walz declared a peacetime emergency to deploy the National Guard, expressing gratitude to the first responders working tirelessly to ensure public safety. "Minnesotans extend our deepest gratitude to all of the first responders working around the clock to keep their neighbors safe," Walz stated.

The increased fire risk is attributed to high temperatures and dry conditions, a situation intensified by the current El Niño weather pattern. These factors have created a challenging environment for wildfire containment efforts in northern Minnesota.

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Minnesotans extend our deepest gratitude to all of the first responders working around the clock to keep their neighbors safe.