wildfires

Smoke from Canadian wildfires is affecting air quality across Minnesota. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says monitors across the state are measuring elevated levels of fine particle pollution. Satellite imagery indicates the Canadian smoke is blanketing much of Minnesota.

Authorities say it could be weeks before a wildfire in northernwestern Minnesota is contained. The fire near Red Lake is the largest of several burning in the area and has consumed more than 38 square miles.

Evacuees have returned to their homes in a small northwestern Minnesota town after fire crews contained a rapidly-spreading wildfire fueled by brisk winds. State fire marshal Bruce Roed said Wednesday the fire is 95 percent contained and has not grown since Tuesday night when about 400 people returned to their homes in the Kittson County town of Karlstad.

Continued fire danger is prompting state and federal officials to restrict campfires and open fires in several counties of northeastern Minnesota.

A forest fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area near Ely has grown to about 4,500 acres. Fire officials said Sunday that dry air and north winds pushed the Pagami Creek Fire father south Saturday, so authorities are moving campers out of the area from Lakes Two through Hudson and the Isabella River.

Firefighters are working to control a wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness east of Ely. The Pagami Creek fire grew to 720 acres as crews intentionally burned land between the blaze and the popular Lakes 1 and 2 over the Labor Day weekend.

The Minnesota DNR is asking homeowners to complete open burning now while there is still some snow on the ground. Spring burning restrictions will go into effect soon and the DNR says now is the safest time to burn.