MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Declares Peacetime Emergency as Wildfires Force Full Boundary Waters Closure

ST. PAUL, MN (July 14, 2026) Minnesota has declared a peacetime emergency and activated the Minnesota National Guard as fast-moving wildfires, extreme heat and prolonged dry conditions threaten communities and wilderness areas across northern Minnesota.

The worsening emergency has forced the U.S. Forest Service to close every entry point into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness beginning Tuesday, July 14. The closure is intended to protect visitors and give firefighters greater freedom to confront fires burning in difficult and remote terrain.

Governor Tim Walz issued Emergency Executive Order 26-08 on Sunday, authorizing the Minnesota National Guard to provide personnel, equipment and specialized firefighting resources requested by state emergency officials.

Seventeen Fires in One Week

According to the governor’s order, 17 wildfires started in and around the Boundary Waters during the previous week. The fires have prompted evacuations and forced the closure of trails, campsites and wilderness entry points.

The most heavily affected area lies in the northwestern Boundary Waters between Ely and Crane Lake, north of the Echo Trail and south of Lac La Croix near the Canadian border.

Unusually hot, dry and windy weather has left vegetation highly combustible. State officials warned that strong winds could rapidly expand existing fires while additional lightning could ignite new ones.

The order identifies Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis counties as areas facing continued dangerous conditions.

Boundary Waters Visitors Ordered Out

The Forest Service’s closure takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday and applies to all Boundary Waters entry points.

Overnight paddle, motor and hiking reservations with entry dates from July 13 through July 17 have been canceled. Day-use motor reservations from July 14 through July 17 have also been canceled, with automatic refunds being issued to affected permit holders.

Forest Service crews are traveling by canoe to approximately 1,900 wilderness campsites to locate visitors and instruct them to leave.

The Boundary Waters was last fully closed in 2021. Federal officials acknowledged that the new closure will affect outfitters, resorts, guides and other northern Minnesota businesses that depend heavily on summer tourism.

National Guard Assistance Authorized

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management were already assisting affected communities. The governor’s order states that existing resources are no longer adequate to meet the escalating threat.

The National Guard can now provide firefighting personnel, equipment, facilities and specialized air support. Many of the active fires are in locations that cannot be easily reached by road.

The emergency order remains effective until conditions subside or August 11, whichever comes first.

Fire and Air-Quality Restrictions

Open fires are prohibited throughout the Superior National Forest, including inside established fire rings. Charcoal grills, wood-burning stoves and similar equipment are also prohibited until further notice.

Certain gas and alcohol-fueled camping stoves may still be used in areas cleared of overhead and surrounding flammable vegetation.

An air-quality alert covering Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely and the Grand Portage Tribal Nation took effect Tuesday morning and is scheduled to continue until 11 a.m. Thursday. Smoke from the fires could spread into other parts of Minnesota as the week continues.

Residents and visitors should monitor official emergency alerts and avoid entering closed areas. Drones should not be flown near wildfires because they can force firefighting aircraft to suspend operations.

Sources: Emergency Executive Order 26-08 and Boundary Waters closure information.

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