Minnesota wildfires force evacuations, guard deployment and free U‑Haul storage

Two fast‑moving wildfires in northern Minnesota – the Flanders Fire in Crow Wing County and the Stewart Trail Fire in Lake County – have burned more than 2,000 acres combined and prompted mandatory evacuations for thousands of residents. Governor Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency on May 18 and activated the Minnesota National Guard to assist firefighting and evacuation efforts. The Flanders Fire, which started near Flanders Lake on May 16, has grown to about 1,666 acres and is 20 % contained; the Stewart Trail Fire, sparked by a power line on May 15, has burned roughly 355 acres and is 62 % contained, destroying 34 structures, including eight homes.

Crow Wing County declared a local emergency, the first step toward state disaster aid, and the governor visited Two Harbors to meet responders and assess damage. In response to the displacement, U‑Haul announced 30 days of free self‑storage and U‑Box rentals at three facilities in the Brainerd and Duluth areas for affected residents.

State officials continue to monitor fire conditions, with National Guard personnel, volunteer fire departments and DNR aircraft supporting containment operations.