Northern Minnesota wildfire prompts evacuations near Burntside Lake

Officials ordered residents to evacuate Monday afternoon as crews work to extinguish a wildfire in northern Minnesota.

The U.S. Forest Service says the fire is located in the Superior National Forest northwest of the North Arm of the Burntside Lake area, approximately eight miles northwest of Ely.

The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office said agencies initially responded to the report of black smoke coming from the north side of Birch Bay on Burntside Lake around 2:56 p.m.

Evacuations are in effect in the area of Lindskog Road and the southernmost part of North Arm Road in Morse Township as a precaution, according to the sheriff's office.

On Monday afternoon and evening, fire personnel and aircraft were responding to the fire, which is estimated to be 30 acres in size. The sheriff's office says the Forest Service will monitor it overnight and firefighting efforts will start again on Tuesday morning.

As of Monday night, no structures have been lost as a result of the blaze.

The public is asked to stay out of the area and to avoid driving or flying in the area.