Large wildfire breaks out in Superior National Forest
This aerial photo from the U.S. Forest Service shows plumes of smoke emanating from the Greenwood Fire on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, in Superior National Forest.[U.S. Forest Service]
The U.S. Forest Service is working to contain a large wildfire detected Sunday afternoon in Superior National Forest.
The Greenwood Fire — named after its origin point near Greenwood Lake, about 15 miles southwest of Isabella, Minnesota — encompasses an estimated "couple hundred acres," but the fire is moving quickly and its exact size is unknown, the Forest Service said in a news release.
Crews are working from the air and the ground to suppress the blaze, and an aircraft is surveying the fire to get a better idea of its size.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources had issued a fire weather watch for most of the state, including Lake County, where the Greenwood Fire is burning.
Gusting winds and dry air are creating "critical" fire weather conditions, and burning outdoors is discouraged, the DNR said.
Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order Sunday authorizing the Minnesota National Guard to support the wildfire response in the northern part of the state, citing historic drought conditions and abnormally high heat this summer.
“The Minnesota National Guard’s additional support will be critical to responding to these wildfires and protecting the safety of Minnesotans and their property," Walz said in a statement. "I am proud that our Service Members have again answered the call to serve their fellow Minnesotans.”