The Biggest Fire in 10 Years is Still Burning in Minnesota Right Now

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The largest fire in a decade doubled in size Tuesday and is still burning in northeast Minnesota.

If you haven't been following the Greenwood Fire, located in northeast Minnesota near Isabella (which is about 25 miles north of Highway-61 along Minnesota's North Shore), the images from the United States Forest Service are truly terrifying.

Wildfire footage we've seen online or on the news earlier this year from fires in California, Oregon and Canada is ALWAYS terrifying, but these pictures and footage from the fire burning up north here in Minnesota is even scarier, probably because I, like many Minnesotans, have been through that area.

The latest estimate on the size of the Greenwood, according to this Duluth TV station KBJR-6 story, indicates that it doubled in size through the day Tuesday and now comprises over 21,700 acres. (It had been at around 9,000 acres on Sunday.) Just for some perspective, BringMeTheNews noted that, at that size, "the fire's footprint is approximately 31 square miles, which is just 10 square miles smaller than the size of St. Cloud, and 12 square miles larger than Mankato."

And, thanks to shifting winds and tinder-dry conditions brought about by the ongoing drought in Minnesota, the fire-- now the largest in Minnesota in a decade-- is now taking aim at more populated areas, including homes, cabins and businesses in that area. (The United States Forest Service has posted several updates about those efforts on their Facebook page.)

KBJR-6 evening anchor Dan Wolfe (who I worked with when we were both at KTTC here in Rochester) reported several updates on Wednesday, including the news that pre-evacuations were taking place in parts of the Superior National Forest near the Gunflint Trail, where there were 4 new fires reported. He also reported that Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will remain closed to visitors through September 3rd.

I'm hoping that the weather starts cooperating with those crews working tirelessly to try to extinguish that fire-- some downpours like parts of Rochester and southeast Minnesota received Tuesday would help. But, as we know, Mother Nature can sometimes produce some scary weather here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Keep scrolling to check out some of Minnesota's worst weather disasters.

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