Overview
- The Stewart Trail Fire, detected Friday afternoon, left evacuation orders in place and kept Highway 61 closed between Two Harbors and Castle Danger early Saturday.
- State fire officials put the size near 100 acres with no containment, as crews cut lines with dozers and hand tools and planned to work through the night.
- Local, state and federal teams used planes for water and retardant drops, and Minnesota had also brought in wildland crews from Ontario and Manitoba to boost staffing.
- Several buildings were reported damaged, and displaced residents found meals and help from nearby restaurants and volunteers.
- The fire flared during a red flag warning with very low humidity and gusty winds, as authorities also responded to 17 to 18 other blazes in the region that early reports tied to cardboard burning and power line damage.