Minnesota Governor Tim Walz activated state National Guard troops this past Sunday to help fight a series of wildfires burning along the northern edge of the state near the Canadian border.
According to the Minnesota state website, the fires have burned through more than 800 acres over the course of five days and have not yet been brought under control. These blazes are part of a broader wave of wildfires spreading across the United States, fueled by hot and dry weather conditions tied to an El Niño weather pattern affecting the entire continent.
Governor Walz, a Democrat, announced the emergency measure in a statement: “I’ve declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the National Guard to assist with wildfire response in northern Minnesota. Minnesotans extend our deepest gratitude to all of the first responders working around the clock to keep their neighbors safe.”
Sixteen individual fires are currently burning within the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota — a popular destination that typically sees around 150,000 visitors during the summer months. The Minnesota Natural Resources Department reported that park rangers spent the weekend escorting visitors safely out of the area.
The National Weather Service noted that elevated temperatures over the weekend added to the already dangerous fire conditions.
