SKIBO - Cooler, wetter weather and ongoing efforts by air and ground crews continued to make progress Tuesday on the wildfire east of Hoyt Lakes.
The so-called Skibo fire was more than half contained early Tuesday and crews were gaining the upper hand on the remaining hot spots.
Other fires in northern Minnesota from the weekend, including near Finland and Embarrass, were considered fully contained and no longer a threat to grow.
Much colder, damper weather for the rest of the week should help snuff the wildfire danger that has been very high for a week across the region. The one exception was close to the Ontario border where rain had not yet fallen Tuesday and dry, windy conditions continued, although some rain is forecast for all parts of the Northland the rest of the week.
The Skibo fire was holding at about 1,000 acres with more than 200 firefighters from a dozen states on the job. The fire started along railroad tracks and was spread out for some eight miles in the Superior National Forest. Helicopters were continuing to make water drops, and ground crews were working to protect structures and strengthen containment lines. There have been no reports of injuries or structures lost.
ADVERTISEMENT
Minnesota helping Ontario battle wildfire
State and federal firefighting aircraft based in northern Minnesota were sent north Tuesday afternoon to help battle a major fire near Kenora, Ont., just north of Lake of the Woods, Minn.
The planes were headed north as fire conditions eased with rain across much of northern Minnesota, but that rain has not yet reached the Ontario fire.
Kenora Fire No. 18 has burned more than 12,000 acres and is exhibiting “extreme fire behavior under windy, dry conditions.”
The U.S. planes will work to help save a power line that supplies Kenora with electricity as well as a railroad line and high-value homes and cottages near Caddy Lake.
Manitoba and Ontario are part of a Great Lakes firefighting compact with several U.S. states, including Minnesota, to share resources when members need help.
