Fridley residents, the northwoods community is where they escape year-round. Today, they learned from their neighbors that all that remains on their property is their chimney. “We lost everything,” she said,

Wildfires have exploded in size across parts of northeastern Minnesota north of Lake Superior, destroying at least 40 homes and buildings, as unseasonably high temperatures and low humidity will continue to drive dangerous fire weather on Tuesday.

BRIMSON, Minn. — The largest of three wildfires in St. Louis County in northern Minnesota has grown to 12,000 acres since Sunday and consumed over 40 homes, cabins and other buildings, St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said Tuesday.

A discarded cigarette and an unattended camp fire might have sparked two of the wildfires that have burned thousands of acres in northern Minnesota this week.

A serious situation is unfolding in northern Minnesota, where multiple wildfires have sprung up during tinderbox-dry conditions, and an increasing number of residents are now subject to evacuation orders as the blaze consumes properties. Authorities in St. Louis County are responding to:

The devastating wildfires that are consuming thousands of acres of forest in northern Minnesota have been exacerbated by the actions of a wood pest. Commanders responding to the trio of wildfires ongoing in St. Louis County say they have been fueled by the eastern spruce budworm.

One of the three wildfires burning in northern Minnesota has exploded in size in just a matter of a few hours.On Tuesday morning, the online tracker Watch Duty showed the Jenkins Creek Fire has grown to 6,

The Camp House Fire is nearly 12,000 acres; Jenkins Creek Fire is 6,800 acres; and Munger Shaw Fire is 1,400 acres. All are zero percent contained.

A red flag warning is in effect for nearly all of Minnesota on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The agency said that a combination of strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures will contribute to "extreme fire behavior.