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Resident raises wildfire and smoke concerns; commissioner says US Forest Service, DNR managing burns
Summary
During the public comment period, Duluth resident Lisa Fitzpatrick urged the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners to address ongoing fires and smoke; a county commissioner said the U.S. Forest Service and the DNR are managing the burns and the county is coordinating support.
A Duluth resident told the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners during the meeting’s public comment period that ongoing wildfires and cross-border smoke remain a concern for local households.
Lisa Fitzpatrick, who identified herself as a Duluth resident, said she understood the fires were “not out” and that they appeared to be largely contained. “I don’t know. I think they’re 98% controlled,” Fitzpatrick said during her three-minute comment.
The county response emphasized interagency management and the remoteness of the fires. A St. Louis County commissioner said, “The U.S. Forest Service is still managing those burns in their lands, and then the DNR is also managing some of that area,” and added that the county manages significant forest land and continues to support response efforts.
Fitzpatrick also raised the impact of smoke from Canadian fires and asked what the county can do to help reduce the risk of large burns. The commissioner noted that some fires remain distant from homes but may persist for an extended period because of the difficulty of access and remoteness.
The comment occurred during the board’s designated public comment window, when speakers may address items not on the agenda for up to three minutes. The commissioner offered to have county staff or an official follow up with Fitzpatrick to “unpack that with you shortly.”
