St. Louis County declares local emergency after multiple wildfires, board moves to preserve funding access

The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday declared a state of local emergency and a state of local disaster after three wildfires burned properties across the county, damaging homes and infrastructure and prompting large-scale firefighting operations.

The declaration, approved at an emergency meeting, was described by county administrators as necessary to "preserve our future abilities for reimbursement or restitution" from state or federal sources, and to keep the county eligible for potential aid as recovery and damage assessments proceed.

Sheriff Gordon Ramsey, who provided the board’s briefing, said the fires began about a week earlier and quickly overwhelmed local resources because of dry conditions and high winds. "I believe these will go down to some of the most historic fires in, not only in our county, but also in the state," Ramsey said. He told commissioners more than 150 structures were impacted, including "at least 30 year-round residential homes," and that multiple communities and federal, state and local agencies responded.

Ramsey described aircraft and more than 400 firefighters from 50-plus different organizations at times fighting the blazes and credited pre-stationed federal aircraft and local volunteer departments with reducing additional structure losses. He said incident commanders briefly planned to order a full evacuation of Hoyt Lakes, the largest population center threatened, but that a sudden heavy rain and cooler temperatures halted that move and helped firefighters gain containment. "About 15 minutes before we were gonna make that decision, the rain started," Ramsey said.

County administration told the board the event covered roughly "approximately 30,000 acres," a figure described as about three times the typical statewide annual acreage burned, and said that number was subject to final confirmation. Administrators and the sheriff also warned of localized infrastructure damage — for example, burned guardrail footings — and of remaining hotspots that could require helicopter- or ground-based crews to reach remote areas such as Jenkins Creek.

The board unanimously voted to suspend the rules to address the matter immediately and then approved Resolution 25-200, formally declaring a state of local emergency and a state of local disaster in St. Louis County. County officials said the declaration is intended to preserve access to potential federal and state funding (including FEMA) but cautioned eligibility and reimbursement must still be determined through the standard application and review processes.

Officials outlined operational next steps: continued firefighting and hotspot suppression, damage and needs assessments, coordination with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management and federal partners, outreach to affected residents, and preliminary planning for property-tax and planning/zoning implications. The administrator said county assessors were already performing tracking and that planning and zoning and other departments would review potential abatements or credits for affected property owners.

During the meeting officials named incident-management contacts and praised communications efforts, including county social media updates and door-to-door notification in evacuation zones for residents without internet or phone access. Emergency management staff highlighted Firewise prevention programs and noted the fire-prone character of local Jack Pine stands along routes such as Jack Pine Road.

Motion records show the suspension of rules was moved by Commissioner Grama and supported by Commissioner Mussoff; the resolution was moved by Public Safety Chair Commissioner Gabb and supported by Commissioner Jovich. After the resolution passed, the board adjourned on a motion by Commissioner Boyle, seconded by Commissioner Mussoff.

County officials emphasized that the declaration does not itself deliver funding; it preserves the county’s ability to apply for and receive state or federal assistance and starts the administrative processes needed for reimbursement if eligible. "This is a classic check-the-box that is requirement to preserve that funding access," the administrator said, adding that much of the initial response focused on public safety and firefighter support during the first 48–72 hours.

The sheriff and multiple commissioners thanked volunteer firefighters, county deputies, dispatch and emergency-management personnel for their work during the fires and encouraged continued vigilance as crews address remaining hotspots and infrastructure repairs.