{"id":1300,"date":"2026-05-17T21:40:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T21:40:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/?p=1300"},"modified":"2026-05-17T21:40:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T21:40:32","slug":"minnesota-deploys-national-guard-to-help-fight-wildfires-in-northern-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/?p=1300","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota deploys national guard to help fight wildfires in northern region"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"282799b4-0940-4132-9ef3-1183f8501ed2\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"smoke rises up in orange sky over highway\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/a0df37993fc787fc2239a94671bd8da3e80d5e09\/0_0_900_720\/master\/900.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">The Flanders wildfire blazes in Crow Wing county, Minnesota.<\/span> Photograph: Crow Wing County<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"282799b4-0940-4132-9ef3-1183f8501ed2\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">The Flanders wildfire blazes in Crow Wing county, Minnesota.<\/span> Photograph: Crow Wing County<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Minnesota deploys national guard to help fight wildfires in northern region<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Tim Walz, the state\u2019s governor, calls blazes \u2018unpredictable and fast-moving\u2019 as dry, windy weather fuels them<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/minnesota\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Minnesota<\/a>\u2019s national guard has been activated to help battle <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/us-wildfires\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">wildfires<\/a> burning in the northern part of the state after the department of natural resources requested additional support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Governor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/tim-walz\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Tim Walz<\/a> authorized the deployment by issuing an executive order that declared a peacetime emergency.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cUnpredictable and fast-moving wildfires are putting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/minnesota\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Minnesota<\/a> communities at risk,\u201d Walz said in a statement. \u201cThis emergency declaration ensures we can fully mobilize the resources needed to protect lives, support evacuations, and help communities respond and recover. I\u2019m grateful to the firefighters, members of the Minnesota National Guard, and all our first responders working around the clock to keep Minnesotans safe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Through the activation, guard members will contribute staffing, equipment and other aid to support firefighting operations and broader emergency response activities.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"0b4ee3dd-f51f-46c7-bc5f-3aba4701b483\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"emergency vehicles on highway as smoke rises in grey sky\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/1b43ef113f76a55b3cec791d231684ec9c2ed894\/0_122_526_421\/master\/526.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356.16920152091257\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Highway 61 is closed heading north out of Two Harbors, Minnesota, due to the Stewart Trail fire.<\/span> Photograph: Facebook\/ Lake County Ambulance Service<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Two of the most significant blazes currently burning are the <a href=\"https:\/\/app.watchduty.org\/i\/98298\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Stewart Trail fire<\/a> near Two Harbors, which has grown to an estimated 355 acres (145 hectares), and the Flanders fire in Crow Wing county, <a href=\"https:\/\/inciweb.wildfire.gov\/incident-information\/mnmns-flanders-fire\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">estimated<\/a> at about 1,200 acres. Crews throughout northern Minnesota faced a demanding Saturday as dry, windy conditions fueled several new wildfire outbreaks.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"ec5c9242-6607-4379-b923-62c227e226f7\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-6 | 6\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-1bg5532\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/apr\/14\/wildfire-cattle-ranchers-american-great-plains\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">\u2018Nothing but tree skeletons\u2019: record-breaking wildfires devastate US cattle country<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">By Sunday afternoon, the Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) <a href=\"https:\/\/inciweb.wildfire.gov\/incident-information\/mnmns-stewart-trail\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">reported<\/a> that the Stewart Trail fire had reached 30% containment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Mandatory evacuations remained in effect on Sunday for residences and businesses north-east of Two Harbors. State Highway 61 was also shut down between Two Harbors and Silver Bay.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Nathan Stadler, the Lake county sheriff, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2026\/05\/17\/stewart-trail-wildfire-evacuations-two-harbors-highway-61-north-shore\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">said<\/a> on Saturday evening that preliminary damage assessments showed the fire destroyed 34 structures, including eight primary buildings such as homes and another 26 secondary structures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWe know that this situation is stressful for residents, visitors, everybody involved, and our teams are working around the clock to keep people safe,\u201d Stadler said at a news conference on Saturday. \u201cThe crews are doing the best they can. They\u2019re working hard to get this fire under control, get the area safe, so that people can get back into their properties.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">State authorities warned that changing wind patterns and stronger gusts may complicate containment efforts. Officials also said a temporary <a href=\"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/stewart-trail-fire-information-5-15-2026\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">flight restriction<\/a> remains active and urged people not to operate drones near the fires.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/minnesota\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Minnesota<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-wildfires\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US wildfires<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-military\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US military<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/wildfires\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Wildfires<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/tim-walz\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Tim Walz<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Minnesota%20deploys%20national%20guard%20to%20help%20fight%20wildfires%20in%20northern%20region&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/17\/minnesota-national-guard-wildfires?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F17%2Fminnesota-national-guard-wildfires&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/17\/minnesota-national-guard-wildfires\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Flanders wildfire blazes in Crow Wing county, Minnesota. Photograph: Crow Wing County View image in fullscreen The<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1311,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1300"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1302,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1300\/revisions\/1302"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}