Emergencies
 
 

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July 2026 Lightning Wildfires

Numerous wildfires continue to burn in northern St. Louis County. The Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management division are assisting the U.S. Forest Service, MN Department of Natural Resources, and numerous local fire departments in responding to these fires. The Ready, Set, Go Evacuation map is activated and anyone in affected areas should be aware and ready to follow instructions as needed.

Air quality is a concern throughout the region due to the wildfire smoke. St. Louis County Public Health is coordinating with area partners to provide safe places for people needing to evacuate and/or find indoor public locations with good air quality.

St. Louis County Evacuation Zone Map

Air Quality Info & Relief Sites

Evacuation Instructions

 

Headlines

One in Custody after Discharging Handgun Read more

One in Custody after Discharging Handgun

In the early morning hours of August 9, 2026, St. Louis County deputies were dispatched to the area of Pequaywan Lake Road and Fox Farm Road in North Star Township following a report of a person with a firearm who had shot toward another individual.

St. Louis County Jail Inmate Death (Update) Read more

St. Louis County Jail Inmate Death (Update)

At 1:10 AM on August 8, 2026, St. Louis County Correctional Officers in the Duluth jail were alerted to an inmate having a medical emergency. Although extensive lifesaving measures were performed, the inmate did not regain consciousness and was pronounced deceased.  

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Emergency Management 

The role of emergency management is to protect lives, property, and environment from natural and/or human-made disasters through preparation, mitigation, response and recovery and to maximize the protection and promotion of public safety, health and welfare during large-scale emergencies. Emergency Management is a division of St. Louis County run out of the Sheriff office.
 

Public Health Emergency Preparedness 

Emergency Preparedness is a unit based out of the department of Public Health responsible for mass care during emergencies in the county. In a public health emergency, we partner with staff from St. Louis County Emergency Management. Together, we work on coordinating temporary shelter locations, organizing and conducting the mass dispensing of vaccines or medicines to the community, sharing information, and providing other public health resources.

Contacts

In emergency or to file a report, call or text 911.

Sheriff's Office Emergency Management Division 218-625-3960

Scott Lesnau, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Email

Grace Elmudesi, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Planner Email