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Environmental News
The Associated Press and MPR News Staff
Isabella, Minn.

Forest Service says lightning caused Minnesota wildfire

Wildfires Minnesota
Smoke rises above the Superior National Forest as the Greenwood Fire burns through Highway 2 on Monday in northeastern Minnesota. The wildfire has continued to grow as firefighters battle the flames from both the ground and air.
Alex Kormann | Star Tribune via AP

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Updated: 1:20 p.m.

A wildfire in the Superior National Forest of northeastern Minnesota that crews have been fighting since the weekend has grown to 6 1/4 square miles, but U.S. Forest Service officials said Thursday morning that it grew little overnight.

The Forest Service said lightning caused the fire near Greenwood Lake, about 25 miles southwest of Isabella, Minn., which was first spotted Sunday. It grew from 5 square miles to 6 1/4 by Wednesday evening, after what officials described as a “very active” afternoon of expansion on its western flank.

But in an update posted Thursday morning, Forest Service officials said there was no significant change overnight, which is often the case with forest fires. Thursday's forecast in the area called for continued hot, dry weather, with thunderstorms expected Friday night and Saturday.

The fire led authorities to evacuate around 75 homes Monday near McDougal Lake, just north of where the fire started. Many dwellings in the area, which is deep in the forest, are seasonal cabins. Superior National Forest spokesperson Joanna Gilkeson said Thursday that more homes may have to be evacuated.

“The fire is being observed to move north and it's been moving west towards Highway 2. So, so the sheriff is looking at if it does hop Highway 2, there may be some additional evacuations,” Gilkeson told MPR News. “However, we do have structure protection crews along that Highway 2 corridor right now working to protect cabins and homes and other power infrastructure.”

Some small portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area to the north and northeast have been closed as a precaution due to the blaze and two smaller fires spotted over the weekend in the wilderness. No injuries and no damage to structures have been reported.

Crews are also fighting several smaller wildfires in northeastern Minnesota. Meanwhile, a series of explosive blazes propelled by gusts that have torn through Northern California mountains and forests.