Overview
- The Flanders Fire, which authorities said Monday evening was about 60% contained at roughly 1,600 acres, saw County Road 11 reopen at noon for pass‑through traffic and limited day access for property owners.
- Evacuations remain in place inside the burn zone, with residents allowed brief returns while crews cool hot spots along the fire edge to stop any flare‑ups.
- Near Two Harbors, the Stewart Trail Fire held at 355 acres with 62% containment, with 34 structures lost, a downed power line identified as the cause, and Highway 61 still closed for firefighting.
- Gov. Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency on Sunday and visited Two Harbors on Monday to thank responders as the state mobilized the National Guard along with extra aircraft and engines.
- Cooler, wetter weather helped crews tighten control lines on Monday, but tinder‑dry logs from a years‑long drought keep risk high and the Flanders cause under investigation.