DNR experiences busy fire weekend; fire near Cass Lake threatens eight homes

Jean Bergerson of the Minnesota Department of Natural resources said fire officials had to set priorities for air tanker drops Saturday as fires threatened structures in several locations.

Fires near Eveleth and Gheen in northeast Minnesota, Battle Lake in central Minnesota and just north of Cass Lake all had structures threatened.

The largest was a fire north of Cass Lake near Pennington where eight homes had been evacuated. CL-215 water scoopers, the P3 heavy air tanker, a single engine air tanker and two helicopters worked on that fire.

Other fires around the state were suppressed by helicopters and the Fire Boss (single engine air tanker on floats).

Low humidities, winds and warm temps are making fires difficult to suppress.