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Minnesota Fires Rage: Smoke Blankets Midwest to East Coast
17 Jul
Summary
- Over 15 wildfires consume 44,000 acres in northern Minnesota's forest.
- Lightning strikes are believed to be the cause of most of the blazes.
- Popular Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is now closed to the public.
Over fifteen wildfires are currently raging across Minnesota's Superior National Forest, consuming more than 44,000 acres of boreal woodlands. These blazes, believed to be ignited by lightning strikes, have prompted widespread air quality alerts from Minnesota to New York.
The U.S. Forest Service has closed the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a significant recreational area within the forest, causing distress among locals. Evacuation orders have been issued in nearby counties, with some areas facing imminent full evacuations.
Response teams have struggled to contain the fires due to persistent high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds. The largest fire, the Thumb Fire, has spread into Canada, requiring air support. Fire weather concerns are expected to persist into the coming week.
