Stewart Trail Fire Grows to 376 Acres Near Two Harbors; Highway 61 Remains Closed
Photo: MN Incident Command System
Published: May 16th 2026
LAKE COUNTY MN: Fire crews continue battling the Stewart Trail Fire north of Two Harbors as the wildfire has grown to approximately 376 acres and remains 0% contained, according to an update released Saturday by the Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS).
The fire, burning in Lake County about three miles north of Two Harbors, started Friday, May 15. The cause remains under investigation.
Officials said 108 personnel are assigned to the fire, with crews working overnight to establish containment lines using hand crews and heavy equipment, including bulldozers.
Aircraft have also been heavily involved in firefighting efforts, including helicopters, scooper planes, and a single-engine airtanker making water and fire-retardant drops over the fire area.
Local fire departments have continued structure protection operations along the Highway 61 corridor as crews work to prevent the fire from spreading toward nearby properties.
According to MNICS, firefighters were able to get a better assessment of the fire overnight, leading officials to update the fire’s size to 376 acres.
Planned operations Saturday include improving existing fire breaks on the southwest side of the fire, extending containment lines to the north, and extinguishing hot spots along the western edge of the fire.
Due to heavy smoke and firefighting operations, U.S. Highway 61 remains closed at County Highway 2 in Two Harbors and at County Highway 106 (West Castle Danger Road) in Castle Danger. A detour has been established from Silver Bay to Two Harbors for motorists traveling around the closure area.
Lake County officials have also implemented the Ready, Set, Go evacuation notification plan, while burning restrictions remain in effect throughout the county.
Governor Tim Walz also commented on the response Saturday, saying multiple state agencies — including the Minnesota DNR, MnDOT, and the Department of Public Safety — are assisting with wildfire operations.
“We have a number of agencies responding to help communities with the ongoing wildfires up north,” Walz said in a statement, thanking responders “stepping into harm’s way to keep their neighbors safe.”