Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota has deployed the state’s National Guard troops on Sunday to combat wildfires along the northern border with Canada.
According to a Minnesota state website, the fires have consumed over 800 acres within five days and remain uncontained.
These blazes are part of a series of wildfires that have been intensified across the United States due to the hot and dry conditions fueled by an El Nino weather pattern.
Governor Walz, a Democrat, stated, “I’ve declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the National Guard to assist with wildfire response in northern Minnesota.”
He expressed his gratitude to all first responders who are diligently working to safeguard their communities.
Currently, 16 fires are active in the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota, an area that typically draws around 150,000 summer visitors.
Over the weekend, park rangers began evacuating visitors, according to the Minnesota Natural Resources Department website.
The National Weather Service reported that high temperatures over the weekend have heightened the fire risk.
