Evacuations Lifted as Crews Battle NE Minnesota Wildfire

HOYT LAKES -- Residents have been allowed to return home as crews battle a wildfire on the eastern Iron Range in Minnesota.

The U.S. Forest Service says eight to 10 fires started Friday afternoon along a three-mile stretch of railroad tracks near Hoyt Lakes. The fires merged into three or four larger fires, but heavy smoke from the fires - mixing with smoke from fires in Canada - made it difficult to determine the exact size of the fire.

An assisted living center along with two or three homes and six to eight cabins east of Hoyt Lakes were evacuated Friday. The 18 residents of the assisted living facility were temporarily housed at the Aurora Community Senior Center.

Residents were allowed to return home late Friday night.