ELY — When the call came in from the state last Friday, Ely Fire Chief Dave Marshall answered. State fire coordinators were requesting 12 structural engine crews to converge on a fast-moving wildfire north of Two Harbors, and Ely had an engine to send.
“We got a request to start a route down to the Stewart Trail Fire, north of Two Harbors,” Marshall told the Ely City Council this week. “The state fire resources office was looking for 12 structural engine groups at that point to converge on that fire.”
Ely dispatched four firefighters, who worked on the fire before returning home. Under the city’s contract with the Minnesota DNR, Ely will be reimbursed $310 per hour for the use of the engine and personnel, a figure Marshall said he’s been working with the fire’s finance division to process.
The Stewart Trail Fire, which started May 15 from a downed power line about three miles north of Two Harbors along Highway 61, ultimately grew to approximately 356 acres before firefighters brought it under full control. Lake County has since lifted all evacuation orders associated with the fire. At least one structure was destroyed.
“I’ve not heard of any injuries, which is good,” Marshall said, “and there were structures that were destroyed. That’s not as good news.”
In total, 34 structures were lost.

17 fires in a single day
The Stewart Trail Fire was far from the only incident demanding attention across the region last week. On May 15, St. Louis County recorded 17 separate wildfire incidents in a single day, as a combination of drought conditions, low humidity, and wind gusts between 30 and 40 mph created what the DNR called extreme fire danger. St. Louis County activated its Emergency Operations Center and at one point was tracking eight simultaneous fires.
Fires were confirmed near Babbitt, where a couple of homes were briefly put on evacuation notice and near Gilbert, where a 25-acre blaze required air support. Fires were also reported near Eagle’s Nest and Orr. Several fires were attributed to residents peforming burns. Others were sparked by trees toppling power lines.
The situation was serious enough that Governor Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency on May 17, mobilizing the Minnesota National Guard to assist with suppression and evacuations. The state’s wildfire preparedness level reached Level 4.
Marshall noted that even as Ely’s engine crew was working the Two Harbors fire, he was tracking developments elsewhere in the region. Several crews working the same fire were redirected elsewhere.
“They had to roll off the Two Harbors fire units to the greater lakes area for the Flanders Fire,” Marshall said.

A cautious moment
As of this week, fire danger in the immediate area has dropped to moderate, aided by cooler temperatures and drizzle. But Marshall was careful not to let that lull residents into complacency.
“We know that can change very, very quickly,” he said, noting that the department had responded earlier the same day to a report of someone burning locally.
The DNR currently has elevated burning restrictions in effect across northern Minnesota. No burning permits for large vegetative debris are being issued, and campfires, while not prohibited, come with a strong caution. Marshall urged residents who do have campfires to keep them to three feet by three feet, maintain a water source nearby, and stay attentive.
“I know a lot of people think, ‘I know what to do if a campfire gets out of control.’ Those are the same thoughts that every person has ever had who lost control of a campfire,” he said. “So it’s just important to realize how quickly things can change.”