Single Publication

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Eastern Area Complex Incident Mgt. Team Incident Commander: Brian Jenkins (effective 05/14/2025)

Fire Information: 218-206-6805  9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mnmns-camp-house Email: 2025.camphouse@firenet.gov

Camp House Fire Quick Facts
Size: 14,979 acres    Location: Brimson, MN                      Personnel: 200
Containment: 0%    Cause: Under investigation         
Start Date: 05/11/2025                                                            

Jenkins Creek Fire Quick Facts

Size: 15,571 acres     Location: T57N R13W Section 3                 

Personnel: 23 (with additional personnel arriving today)

Containment: 0%    Cause: Under investigation          

Start Date: 05/12/2025

NOTE: The causes of both fires remain under investigation. Offers of donations by the public, though greatly appreciated, should be referred to the Red Cross or Salvation Army.

Camp House Fire: Dozer crews are constructing a line on the south end of the fire and will continue direct attack on that area. Air support dropped water yesterday to protect the communications tower. Crews are assessing the viability of setting up structure protection near Fairbanks. 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. 

National Weather Service Forecast: The outlook is for clear skies this afternoon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm.  Highs will range from upper-60s to near 80, depending on location. Winds will be easterly at 10-20 mph with occasional gusts up to 30 mph. A quarter- to a half-inch of rain is expected once a cold front ushers in precipitation at about sunset.

Evacuations and Road Closures: St. Louis County Sheriff's Office Divisions of Emergency Management and 911 have a website hub with evacuation and other fire information and Ready-Set-Go map. 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. 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. Access to the Skibo area is extremely limited. 

Jenkins Creek Fire: The hot, windy weather in recent days led to some extreme fire behavior with crown torching and spread. Protection of the Skibo community is a priority operational objective. Like the Camp House area, this area has been impacted by a heavy infestation of spruce budworm, so there is an abundance of distressed and dead balsam fir and white spruce. Firefighters will be assessing fire suppression control-line locations and tactics that present the best opportunity for success. “Hot shot” crews have now been inserted on this fire. The acreage report has been updated as a result of more accurate readings by infrared drones.  

Forest Supervisor Tom Hall has closed a portion of the Laurentian Ranger District with Emergency Forest Order 09-09-25-05, prohibiting visitor entry. See Forest Order Exhibit A for a list of closure areas and Exhibit B for a map of the area.  The closure may be modified or extended as conditions allow. https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts/forest-order-09-09-25-05-brimson-complex-emergency-closure 

Burning Restrictions: For current burning restrictions, see  https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html