Find the latest wildfire details - including links to the Ready, Set, Go evacuation map, and air quality information on our July 2026 Wildfire emergency page.

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

Missing Canoeists Curtain Falls BWCA - 6/3 Update Read more

Missing Canoeists Curtain Falls BWCA - 6/3 Update

Shortly after 10:00 a.m. this morning the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office and the St. Louis County Rescue squad located the body of the second missing canoeist Reis Melvin Grams age 40 of Lino Lakes, MN.  Search crews located Grams just west of the Curtain Falls in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.  The deceased was flown by plane to the Ely Sea Plane Base, Ely, MN.  After more than two weeks of searching all missing persons have been located.   
Missing Canoeists Curtain Falls BWCA - 5/31 Update Read more

Missing Canoeists Curtain Falls BWCA - 5/31 Update

The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office and St. Louis County Rescue Squad have located the body of Jesse Melvin HAUGEN Age 41 of Cambridge, MN today during search operations near Curtain Falls in the BWCA which have continued for the nearly the past two weeks. Search efforts continue in attempts to locate the second missing Canoeist Reis Melvin GRAMS Age 40 of Lino Lakes, MN. Crews will continue searching into next week with flights in and out unavailable until Monday.
Missing Canoeists Curtain Fall BWCA - 5/24 Update Read more

Missing Canoeists Curtain Fall BWCA - 5/24 Update

On May 18, 2024 at approximately 7:21 PM, the St. Louis Co Sheriff's Office was dispatched to a report of a water emergency on Iron Lake in the BWCA. The caller reported 2 canoes had gone over Curtain Falls during the incident, one party was badly injured and two individuals were missing.
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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