On Friday morning, the Fire Incident Command announced it was temporarily allowing property owners to enter the evacuation zones of Jenkins Creek and Camp House fires until 8 PM tonight.
Sheriff Gordon Ramsay mentiond in an update on his social page, that he was at the checkpoint when some of the homeowners came through.
“It was very sad to meet and talk to those who have lost their houses,” he said. “There was one couple that had been in their house for 40 years, and have a lot of memories and sadness around these losses. It was very sad to talk to them and have their memories come out.”
Ramsay says the fire that is being watched most closely, is the Jenkins Creek fire.
“The fire crews are really focusing on that northwest corner of the Jenkins Creek Fire, where it is closet to Hoyt Lakes,” Sheriff Ramsay said.
The Incident Command put in Hot Shot teams to build some barriers between the fire and Hoyt Lakes.
Sheriff Ramsay said the weather on Friday has helped significantly, but the airplanes were not able to go up.
“The planes were not permitted to fly today because of the weather. That hinders us with the Jenkins Creek Fire because of the remoteness of that fire,” Ramsay said. “It is very remote, and the fact that those planes couldn’t fly has hindered our ability to say what’s exactly happening with that fire right now.”
Property owners will have until 8 p.m. tonight to go and survey the damage.
The public must first check-in with the deputies who are staged at Hugo‘s Bar for the Camp House area, or at County Road 16 and Forest Highway 11 for the Jenkins Creek area. Bring proper identification and proof of property ownership. The official notice also states everyone entering the evacuation zone, must check out with deputies before leaving.
Officials remind residents to be careful within the closed area and watch for hazards such as downed trees.
Gov. Tim Walz, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith spent time at the Incident Command Center and surveyed some of the damage. Here is the full press conference:
Rep. Pete Stauber also toured the aftermath of the Camp House Fire and spoke with the press afterward:
Rep. Pete Stauber shares his thoughts following a tour of the aftermath of the Camp House Fire.
Friday morning update: The Eastern Area Management Team provided an update Friday morning, May 16, for the Brimson Complex Fires, consisting of the Camp House and Jenkins Creek Fires.
As of the update, the Camp House Fire is 0% contained and measured at 14,852 acres. The cause of the fire, which began Sunday, May 11, is still under investigation. Dozer crews have advanced to a containment line on the south end and west side of the fire. Crews will make direct attacks on those areas as conditions permit.
“Crews are assessing the viability of setting up structure protection near Fairbanks,” explained the Management Team. “The fire is fueled by mixed forest vegetation and spruce budworm-infested forest stands. Dead and distressed balsam and aspen prone to ignition pose a significant hazard for firefighters. ‘Hot Shot’ crews are in the field. This fire has not grown, and the reduced acreage reported is the result of a more accurate scan by infrared reconnaissance flights.”
The Jenkins Creek Fire also remains 0% contained at this time and is measured at 15,571 acres. It also remains under investigation.
“Thursday night storms have mitigated some of that,” explained authorites. “Protection of the Skibo and Hoyt Lakes communities remains a priority operational objective. Firefighters continue to assess fire suppression control-line locations and dozers are extending and connecting those lines already developed. ‘Hot Shot’ crews have been inserted on this fire. The acreage total reflects accurate reports obtained via infrared reconnaissance flights.”
St. Louis County officials also announced this morning that their two evacuation centers, Fredenberg Community Center and Old School Lives, are now closed. For anyone who remains evacuated and seeking resources, please call 2-1-1.
Evacuations and Road Closures: St. Louis County has closed eastbound Highway 16 at Camp 26 Trail Track and County Hwy 44 is closed to northbound traffic. (Highway 55 is still open.) Eastbound Highway 16 and southbound Brimson-Toimi Rd/6205 Rd are closed at that intersection. Westbound Hwy 16 at County Hwy 2. County Rd. 110 (Hwy 11) is closed outside Hoyt Lakes at the Moose Line. Eastbound Forest Rte. 129 is also closed at the Moose Line.
Evacuation information for St. Louis County: https://tinyurl.com/StLouisCoSituationMap. For Lake County: https://tinyurl.com/LakeCoMnEvacuationMap.
National Weather Service Forecast: Showers will continue thought the morning and afternoon and may redevelop between 7 pm and 1am. The predicted high is 55F; overnight low will be around 44F. A 10 mph wind will likely shift from the south to the north sometime in the afternoon, and occasional gusts may approach 20 mph. Humidity: 70%.
Burning Restrictions: For current burning restrictions, see here.
