DULUTH, Minn. – The Eastern Area Incident Management Team on Wednesday (5/21/2025) morning declared the Jenkins Creek Fire was “Human Caused”. Up until Wednesday the Jenkins Creek Fire cause was officially declared to be “Under Investigation”. In an update the Eastern Area Incident Management Team expanded on the cause of the fire by writing, “While the initial investigation into the…
Lingering smoke drifts through fire-damaged timber as crews continue work along a dozer line on the Brimson Complex, May 2025. Hazardous snags and smoldering fuels remain a concern as containment efforts progress. DULUTH & ST. PAUL, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz on May 20, 2025 declared a peacetime emergency in response to wildfires in Northeast Minnesota. This follows St. Louis…
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. — In the last day containment around the Camp House fire grew from 40% to 59%. There are now four containment lines targeting the fire from all sides protecting the area south of Bassett, area north of Brimson, and areas to the east of Hornby and Breda. These lines were strengthened in preparation of Tuesday’s…
BRIMSON, Minn. –Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith visited the Camp House fire zone to take in the carnage firsthand. The group first visited the Incident Command Center at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Two Harbors, and met with teams responding to the fires. Governor Walz thanked the crews and volunteers, and shared his…
Munger Shaw Fire (Northland Fire Wire) COTTON, Minn. — The Munger Shaw wildfire, which has burned 1,600 acres, slowed down on Thursday. Lower humidity, reduced winds, and higher humidity have helped with slowing fire growth. according to officials. Firefighters are now able to focus their time on building and strengthening dozer lines and securing the fire perimeter. Severe thunderstorms and…
MINNESOTA — Governor Walz called up the national guard to assist in battle the wildfire. That includes crews dropping water on hot spots from helicopters… One pilot says she’s honored to be able to help out fellow Minnesotans. “It’s very mentally and physically taxing just controlling the aircraft with all the winds and trying to get it in the right…
DULUTH, Minn. — Click the video above to watch the first 15 minutes of FOX 21’s 9 p.m. wildfire coverage from Tuesday, May 13. Topics covered included the latest acres burned, an update on firefighting efforts from Incident Command in Two Harbors, and what St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay believes caused the three separate wildfires that continued to burn…
DULUTH, Minn. — The fire danger in the Northland has been rated as high, as a result the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has issued burn restrictions across the region. “This upcoming pattern that we’re going to be looking at as far as creating these possible critical fire weather conditions, especially Sunday and Monday, is something that we generally see,…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has released its regional fishing outlooks for areas around Minnesota. You can find the Northwest Region breakdown below. (CLICK HERE FOR: Northeast Regional Fishing Outlook for 2025) Lake of the Woods area: Walleye and sauger are the most important sport fish in Lake of the Woods, and as such those populations…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has released its regional fishing outlooks for areas around Minnesota. You can find the Northeast Region breakdown below. (CLICK HERE FOR: Northwest Regional Fishing Outlook for 2025) Duluth Area: The St. Louis River Estuary provides exceptional fishing opportunities for walleye and other species such as muskellunge, smallmouth bass, black crappie and…
ASHLAND, Wis. — Multiple brush fires shut down a section of Highway 2 in Ashland Monday evening. Road Closure As for 5:30 p.m. the Wisconsin Department of Transportation closed a section of Highway 2 in both directions from Old Odanah Road to 26th Avenue. Video from resident Christie Branagan showed sections of fire and thick smoke near the Three Eagles…
DULUTH, Minn. — Volunteers came together in Lincoln Park to clean up for Earth Week. Local organization Ecolibrium3 wrapped up it’s 5th annual Earth Week on Saturday. The week consists of a series of events dedicated to bettering the environment. On Saturday Eco3 hosted a community clean-up in Lincoln Park. Volunteers were provided gloves, garbage bags and grabbers. Last year…
DULUTH, Minn. — Starry Skies North Celebrated Dark Skies week at the Lake Superior Zoo. Mayor Reinert made a proclamation designating today, April 24th, as Dark Sky Day in Duluth. Seven local businesses were also awarded Dark Sky friendly certification. Dark Skies is an international movement to reduce light pollution. Many animals are affected by bright light pollution. It also…
DULUTH, Minn. — Resource Renew, formerly known as Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD), is reminding the public about proper recycling and disposal methods. Today at the Whole Foods Co-Op on Grand Ave., Emma Pardini, an environmental program coordinator, held a class with a Q&A about common recycling questions. Pardini emphasized the importance of reduce, renew, and recycle. Resource Renew…
SUPERIOR, Wis.– 4th Graders from Cooper Elementary in Superior had the opportunity to get some hands-on learning for Earth Day. The 4th graders got their hands dirty this morning at the Wade Park in Superior. They partnered up with the City of Superior to clean up trash. After they collected, the kids got to sort it all out, weigh it…
NORTHERN MINNESOTA — The Superior National Forest is starting prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation. The prescribed fires may be close to areas open to the public for the next several days. Warning signs will be posted along roads near all prescribed fire areas before operations begin. The Forest Service is warning that nearby residences may experience heavy smoke….
CANYON, Minn.– Around 250 closed dump and landfill sites across St. louis County is being addressed with a proposed project. These sites are unlined and ultimately contaminating ground water. To try and solve this, there’s a multi-million-dollar plan to help reverse the centuries-long damage at those sites. The project is called the “St. Louis County Integrated Solid Waste Management Campus.”…
NORTHERN MINNESOTA — Federal funding delays is impacting the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and their response to limiting the spread of spongy moths. Spongy Moths are an destructive invasive species in our area that threaten our area’s forest. The MDA uses federal funding for their Btk (Bacilius thuringiensis var. kurstaki) treatment which slows the spread of spongy moth caterpillars in…
DULUTH, Minn.– With the weather turning warmer, it was perfect timing for people to learn everything about pruning apple trees. Around 20 community members got their hands dirty while learning how to prune apple trees. The group got to help out one of the public orchards in Morgan Park that’s sponsored by ‘Edible Duluth’, The pruning class was put…
DULUTH, Minn.– A first of its kind project using hydrogen-based energy is in limbo after a federal pause on grants loans took place but was quickly revoked. That first of a kind project is called ‘Green Iron Project’, and it centers around the conversion of iron into steel using a hydrogen energy plant. The Minnesota Natural Resource Institute has a…
MINNESOTA — The unseasonal weather of the last year could bring both positive and negative impacts onto farmers this upcoming growing season. In a typical year, Minnesota sees lighter, fluffier snow from December to February, and heavy, wet snow between March and May. So far this season, snowfall totals are below the 30-year average, but total precipitation is near average…
ELY, Minn. — Former President Jimmy Carter teamed up with the Friends of the Boundary Waters during his administration, to help back up his efforts around the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness. “There’s been a lot of sacrifice, a lot of victory too, and not all of those sacrifices accumulated into what we have today,” said Riley Smith. Riley Smith…
ELY, Minn.– Following the death of former president Jimmy Carter, he left behind quite the legacy for the Boundary Waters. After his recent death back in December, Friends of the Boundary Waters are looking back at his impact fondly. During Carter’s presidency, he teamed up with the Friends of the Boundary Waters. Together they passed numerous bills and acts promising…
DULUTH, Minn.– The winter season is feeling a bit more seasonal this year, because some freezing cold temperatures are on the horizon. The Northland is bracing for a cold stretch, lasting through next Wednesday. With temperatures falling well into the negative teens and ’20s. Temps that low matched with windchill are especially dangerous, because frostbite can occur in as little…
DULUTH, Minn. — Click the video above to watch FOX 21’s coverage at 9 p.m. Wednesday of the raging, fatal wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Plus, Meteorologist Rusty Mehlberg gives a perspective of what the size of the fires over Los Angeles would look in Duluth and other parts of the Northland. It’s a perspective that really opens your…
DULUTH, Minn. — As many anglers are excited to get out onto the ice now that the cold air has moved in. But the U.S. Coast Guard in Duluth is getting ready for ice rescues. Currents still flow underneath the ice and weaken areas that may seem safe. To prepare for the unexpected, Coast Guard members regularly practice ice rescue…
Duluth Minn — Duluth Public Schools are finalizing plans for two new solar projects on district property. One project will be installed near Lincoln Park Middle School. The other at the school’s district office. The solar power will not only help provide cleaner energy but also helps offset the costs of the energy they currently use. Students assisted in advocating…
DULUTH, Minn.– You’ve heard stories of people rescuing stray animals like dogs or cats, but how about two owls in one day! Lake Superior Zoo Employee Annabell Whelan played a big role in saving both a great grey owl and a snowy owl in the same day. “So, I kind of went along with my day, and thought, that was…
DULUTH, Minn. — What was supposed to be a stroll through Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Bayfront Festival Park Monday evening turned into quite the rescue of an owl. Annabell Whelan, guest experience manager at the Lake Superior Zoo, spotted the owl stuck in the grill of someone’s car in Bayfront parking lot as she was leaving Bentleyville. Whelan said…
DULUTH, Minn. – During the summer, the “lake side” of Park Point attracts thousands to its beaches; but during the winter months, the “bay side” is the place to be. While the temperature is expected to climb in the coming days, ice fishermen have been back on the bay thanks to an early season freeze. Today’s ideal temps drew a number…
DULUTH, Minn. — A litter of five puppies was found in a bin on the side of the road Tuesday evening near Animal Allies in Duluth, and the shelter is asking for help in what they called a “holiday miracle.” While the caretakers at Animal Allies called the initial finding “devasting,” they said it’s a miracle someone stopped to check…
VIRGINIA, Minn. — A $1.3 million dollar project is now complete for the City of Virginia. The Silver Lake Walking Trail initially started in 2019. The bridge was a multiple phase project all to create a different way to get to schools, parks, trails, and other areas in Downtown Virginia. Part of the idea is to reduce carbon footprint allowing…
MINNESOTA — The Minnesota DNR is introducing a new eagle camera, that will go live for the first time this Thursday. The new camera will feature a new breeding pair of eagles. The original camera will be in the area as well, occasionally seeing the previously featured pair that lost their nest in 2023. That same pair made a new…
A multi-county, multi-week search for Brad, the daring sheep on the run from city to city, came to a safe end Tuesday with one story to tell. Midway Township sighting Monday “Oh God. I don’t even feel like it’s real. I don’t think it’s real, but it is,” said Shana Roberts, a volunteer at the Lake County Humane Society in…
SANDSTONE, Minn.– Lately, there’s a lot to be excited about at the Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone. The Wildcat Sanctuary recently expanded from 80 acres to 200 acres, when they were able to buy 120 acres of additional land. The Wildcat Sanctuary does not have any plans for the new space. They are using the additional land as a buffer for…
DULUTH, Minn. — Our friends at FOX 9 in Minneapolis had some fun today talking about Brad, the missing sheep, that’s been on the run for at least two weeks now — from Two Harbors to Proctor. Click the video below to watch the segment with Anchor Amy Hockert and Senior Producer Amber Milner. Click here to watch FOX 21’s…
DULUTH, Minn. — Scientists, students, and professionals from several states gathered at the DECC on Wednesday to discuss invasive species this week. The biannual upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference offers an opportunity for those researching invasive species to share their findings with a wide range of colleagues. And learn from one another, on how to best manage the threats certain…
VIRGINIA, Minn.– St. Louis County’s landfill got a new first-of-its kind technology in the state that creates new energy from garbage. A ribbon cutting was held today in Virginia at the site of the landfill’s new 10-acre geo-thermal field. The field has a specialized liner with coils at its base. Heat produced through decomposing garbage will now be captured in…
SANDSTONE, Minn. — The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone is expanding its footprint by 120 acres. The adjacent land has always been on the eyes of executive director Tammy Thies. So, when she saw the for-sale sign pop up recently, she immediately made an offer. Thies says the new land will act as a natural buffer between wild animals and the…
DULUTH, Minn. — An event for outdoor recreation enthusiasts took place at the DECC on Friday. The Duluth Area Outdoor Alliance hosted the Great Lakes Outdoor Summit. The summit draws in people from across the Upper Midwest, allowing for businesses, advocates and other organizations to connect, build community and learn more about the great outdoors. The summit had 12 engagement…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — Superior Mayor Jim Paine believes the proposed Nemadji Trail Energy Center, or NTEC, is officially not going to be built along the Nemadji River. But Minnesota Power says that is not the case. Paine’s conclusion comes after Minnesota Power and its NTEC partner, Dairyland Power, recently withdrew their air permit to build the natural gas-powered plant near…
LUTSEN, Minn. — Every fall, thousands of people flock up north to take in the beauty of Northern Minnesota. “We had 5,000, this past weekend. We’ve had a lot of people coming up here, our hotels have been totally full,” said Zak Trimble, Chief Operations Officer for Lutsen Mountains. And they all show up for the same reason. To check…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — An event surrounding a big hairy mythical creature is taking place this weekend in Grand Rapids. The 5th annual Minnesota Bigfoot Conference is all about spreading awareness of the education and protection of the creature. It is put on by the Minnesota Bigfoot Research Team who have been working together for 24 years now. The event…
Courtesy of Heidi Beal, Zoo’s Staff Photographer DULUTH, Minn. — A pair of critically endangered animals have been born at the Lake Superior Zoo. The cotton-top tamarin twins were born on Sept. 15. These types of monkeys live in close-knit family groups and are joined by 2 siblings, along with their mom Mira and dad Deno. Cotton-tops are protected under…
DULUTH, Minn. — One couple, who were born and raised in Superior, Wisconsin, are breathing a sigh of relief after their Florida home is narrowly missed by Hurricane Helene. Tom and Cindy Fennessey watched from thousands of miles away, as the Category 4 storm bypassed their costal home. The couple resides in Englewood, Florida, which is about an hour south…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — It’s the second annual Wisconsin Stormwater week. The week is all about spreading awareness of the sources of stormwater pollution. Wisconsin Land and Water is hosting webinars. And Tuesday they held one on road salt, commonly used to clear ice during the winter and its effects on the environment. Wednesday they discus ponds, and Thursday they will…
CHISHOLM, Minn.– A new and improved way to enjoy the Minnesota Discovery Center is finally complete. Crews had to fix over forty years of wear and tear to restore it. And now, it’s looking better than ever. “It’s very exciting. This has been a project that’s been a long time in the works. We started working on this several years…
GRAND LAKE TOWNSHIP, Minn. — For a year now, the Earl Hanson soccer field has catered to the disc golf lovers, and the soccer players alike. But now, there is a hidden gem discovered within those fields. A new public hiking trail is being unveiled to join the park. This was made possible by local businesses and volunteers. The disc…
Minnesota Power is expanding its solar footprint with plans to build two large solar projects in northern Minnesota. The Regal Solar project will be built near Royalton with 255,000 solar modules on about 800 acres. The Boswell Solar project will include 180,000 solar modules on about 600 acres. The two sites will have a combined capacity of around 204 megawatts….
BAYFIELD, Wis.– Despite the Bayfield Apple Festival happening right around the corner, apple orchards are taking advantage of the fall season in the meantime by opening their doors for guests. Before the Apple Fest, guests can check out their gift shop and sample their bakery. The family business has served the Bayfield community for over one-hundred years. Owner and…
