Walz Declares Emergency, Activates National Guard as Minnesota's Flanders Fire Nears 2,100 Acres
Updated
Updated · KAXE · May 17
Walz Declares Emergency, Activates National Guard as Minnesota's Flanders Fire Nears 2,100 Acres
1 articles · Updated · KAXE · May 17
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency Sunday and mobilized the National Guard to support evacuations and protect lives as the Flanders Fire burned in Crow Wing County.
Nearly 2,100 acres had burned by Sunday afternoon after the wildfire erupted Saturday near Flanders Lake and spread quickly in red-flag conditions driven by dry air and gusty winds.
Firefighters shifted from mostly aircraft-based suppression to ground operations as conditions eased, building bulldozer lines, protecting structures and mopping up hot spots, though the fire was still listed at 0% containment earlier Sunday.
About 30 people remained displaced, officials reported no responder injuries and no destroyed primary residences, though some sheds and outbuildings burned and a few homes suffered minor damage.
The blaze, about 5 miles southeast of Crosslake, has become a major regional response involving state incident command, evacuation shelters and local fundraising for affected households and crews.
What are the hidden economic and ecological costs the Flanders Fire will impose on Minnesota's vital lake country long after the smoke clears?
As Minnesota battles multiple large wildfires, are its firefighting resources and strategies prepared for a new era of heightened fire risk?