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

Open House to highlight updates on Rice Lake Road Corridor Project Read more

Open House to highlight updates on Rice Lake Road Corridor Project

St. Louis County Public Works and the City of Rice Lake will host an open house to present updates on the Rice Lake Road Corridor project. The open house will be Thursday, October 23, from 6-8 p.m. at North Star Academy, 3301 Technology Drive in Duluth. Project leaders will share results from traffic modeling and environmental reviews, and present updated plans.
Personal Injury Crash in Rice Lake Read more

Personal Injury Crash in Rice Lake

On September 26, 2025, at 2003 hours, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, City of Rice Lake Fire and EMS, St. Louis County Rescue Squad and Mayo Ambulance were dispatched to a report of a two-vehicle accident in the 5100 block of Rice Lake Road. It was reported that it involved a car with two occupants and a truck that was on its side in the ditch. 
NERCC Inmate Escape - Update Read more

NERCC Inmate Escape - Update

On the evening of Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Northeast Regional Corrections Center staff reported inmate MICHAEL TODD HART, DOB 05/05/1985 had escaped custody from the facility (6102 Abrahamson Rd., Saginaw, MN).

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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