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

Michael Allen Hanson Sentenced Read more

Michael Allen Hanson Sentenced

Today in St. Louis County District Court in Duluth, Chief Judge Leslie E. Beiers sentenced Michael Allen Hanson, 41, to 150 months in prison with lifetime conditional release for three counts of Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct for multiple acts of sexual contact with a juvenile, announced County Attorney Kim Maki.

Shawn Francis Mortensen Sentenced Read more

Shawn Francis Mortensen Sentenced

 

Today in St. Louis County District Court in Duluth, Chief Judge Leslie E. Beiers sentenced Shawn Francis Mortensen, 46, to 144 months in prison for multiple acts of criminal sexual conduct against a minor, announced St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki.

ATV Accident near Ely Read more

ATV Accident near Ely

On July 3, 2026 at approximately 9:05 PM, first responders and law-enforcement were dispatched to the report of an ATV accident near the intersection of Grant McMahan Blvd. and Gold Mine Road located in Morse Township west of Ely. 

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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