I’ve never liked déjà vu. It’s that uneasy tug in the ribs, the sense that something hard is circling back before you’re ready for it. And this weekend, as the Stewart Trail Fire burned outside Two Harbors, that feeling settled in again.
Last year, it was the Brimson Complex, including the Camp House Fire, an anniversary we just marked. Now new fires are breaking out across Minnesota, many of them over the weekend in St. Louis County, and the Fire Watch app kept chiming on repeat. Each alert felt like a small crack in the heart. Worry for the neighbors watching the tree line. Worry for the wind shifting. Worry for the rain that keeps holding off.
And beneath it all, a question taking root in the North Woods: Is this simply our reality now? Are wildfires becoming part of life in northern Minnesota?
Fire crews say the Stewart Trail Fire began Friday, May 15, about three miles north of Two Harbors and was caused by a downed power line. By Monday morning, it had burned 355 acres and was 62 percent contained, with 77 personnel on scene. The fire pushed south over the weekend with warm temperatures, dry vegetation that has not yet greened up, and shifting winds that sent smoke toward Highway 61 and the Silver Creek Cliff tunnel. As of Monday, Lake County officials report that 34 structures have been lost, including 8 primary homes and 26 outbuildings. Evacuation zones were reduced Sunday night as containment improved, though the Ready, Set, Go system remained active.
Highway 61 was closed between the Stewart River and the Silver Cliff Tunnel, with a detour in place from Silver Bay to Two Harbors. Crews spent the night strengthening dozer lines, mopping up hot spots up to 125 feet inside the perimeter, and preparing for more wind and a chance of rain later in the day.
Gov. Tim Walz, joined by Senator Grant Hauschild, visited Two Harbors on Monday afternoon to survey the damage and meet with wildfire crews, local officials, first responders, and residents affected by the fire. Walz said he was grateful for the progress firefighters have made in containing the blaze and protecting lives, noting that the coordinated response among local, state, and federal partners has made a real difference. He said the state will continue supporting Lake County as response efforts continue and recovery begins.
The Governor’s visit came as crews continued working not only on the Stewart Trail Fire but also on the Flanders Fire in Crow Wing County, which has grown to more than 1,600 acres and prompted evacuations.
Walz declared a peacetime emergency on May 17 and mobilized the Minnesota National Guard to assist with wildfire suppression and emergency response across northern Minnesota. Guard members are working alongside the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center, and local agencies to protect structures and support displaced residents.
Emergency crews from across the region have been working nonstop, and they have been met by an outpouring of support from volunteers, businesses, families, and friends who moved quickly to help those affected.
The Rustic Inn Café has become an impromptu donation hub and refuge for those in need, offering water, food, snacks, and support. The Inn reported that two of their employees have been impacted by the fire, losing everything. A GoFundMe has been created for LouAnn and Rick Johnson and their son Gavyn, whose home was lost.
But déjà vu isn’t always the kind that sits uncomfortably in your chest. There is another version of it that comes back just as quickly, and it showed up all over the county during the weekend. It is the familiar feeling of people stepping toward one another instead of away. It is the way this community moves as if by instinct when something goes wrong.
Local businesses and volunteers were quick to act. Do North Pizzeria, McQuade’s Pub and Grill, Lilly’s Asian Cafe, and Na-Cho Bizness offered meals for evacuees and for the crews working the fire. Bodies in Balance opened their doors for showers. The Lake County Humane Society provided free boarding and pet food. Castle Danger offered their space as a community room for anyone who needed it.
This is only a small part of the list. Many others stepped forward in quiet ways that mattered just as much. In a weekend filled with alerts and smoke and worry, this was the kind of déjà vu that steadied people. The kind that reminds you what it means to live in a community that watches out for one another when it matters most.
As of noon on Tuesday, Fire Evacuation and Road Closures were lifted and the fire is reported at 100% contained. When traveling through this effected area please exercise caution, as fire personnel may still be operating in and around affected locations. For additional details, please visit the Lake County website.
