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Walz Declares Peacetime Emergency, Mobilizes National Guard for Minnesota Wildfires

The order centralizes the response under state emergency managers.

Overview

  • Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency and activated the National Guard to fight fast-moving wildfires.
  • He said the order lets the state fully deploy resources to protect lives, support evacuations, and help communities recover.
  • The Homeland Security and Emergency Management division is coordinating with the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation, the Interagency Fire Center, and local crews.
  • Two large fires are the Steward Trail Fire near Two Harbors, estimated at about 355 acres, and the Flanders Fire in Crow Wing County, estimated at about 1,100 acres.
  • The emergency takes effect immediately and remains in place until conditions ease or June 7, 2026.