ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton today issued Executive Order 18-12, calling upon the Minnesota National Guard to assist with firefighting efforts in Beltrami County. The National Guard will support the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) ongoing firefighting efforts in Beltrami County, where a 500-acre wildfire began yesterday.
"The women and men of the Minnesota National Guard are trained and ready to take on this important mission," said Maj. Gen. Jon Jensen, Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard. "We will do all we can to successfully support this firefighting effort."
In ongoing efforts to contain and extinguish the wildfire in Beltrami County, the Minnesota National Guard will provide the assistance of two water-dropping helicopters. The UH60 (Blackhawk) helicopter is capable of dumping 660 gallons of water on the fire at one time. The CH47 (Chinook) helicopter is capable of dumping 2,000 gallons of water on the fire at one time.
The wildfire in Beltrami County began on Wednesday, as a result of a DNR-prescribed fire which was intended to manage brushlands in northwest Minnesota. At this time, the fire is limited to state lands within the Beltrami Island State Forest. Thus far, no structures or private land are threatened.
Current fire danger in northwest Minnesota is categorized as “very high,” and is expected to remain high for the next several days.
